Evaluation of the In Vitro Effect of Gold Nanorod Aspect Ratio, Surface Charge and Chemistry on Cellular Association and Cytotoxicity.

摘要

Gold nanorods (GNRs), due to their unique optical & electronic properties are popular candidates for novel nano-based biomedical applications. Unfortunately, previous studies have reported the potential for GNR cytotoxicity related to the materials physicochemical properties. Even so, it is still unclear how the physicochemical properties of aspect ratio (AR), surface charge and surface chemistry contribute to GNR cellular association and cytotoxicity. In this report, we showed that surface chemistry is primarily responsible for cytotoxicity and cellular association of GNRs. Results demonstrated that with the removal or sequestration of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) both negatively and positivity charged GNRs had significantly enhanced biocompatibility. In addition, when GNR deposition was accounted for, the materials AR and primary surface charge had minimum overall impacted on cytotoxicity and cellular association of GNRs. These findings identify surface chemistry as primarily responsible for cytotoxicity and cellular association of GNRs, enabling the development of GNRs with enhanced biocompatibility for new nano-based biomedical applications.