Title:Study of the Parameters Affecting the Loading of Fluorescein on Coated Gold Nanoparticles: Promising Nanostructure for Cancer Diagnosis
Volume: 21
Issue: 17
Author(s): Nazanin Hendi, Ali Shakeri-Zadeh, Neda Attaran*, Zahra Alamzadeh and Azadeh Asefnejad
Affiliation:
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Applied Biophotonics Research Center, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran,Iran
Keywords:
Gold nanoparticles, fluorescein, conjugate nanoparticles, medical diagnostic methods, nanoparticle stability, melanoma cell.
Abstract:
Background: Recent advances in nanotechnology have led to the use of nanomaterials in the diagnosis
of cancer by imaging techniques.
Objective: This study aimed to synthesize fluorescein-conjugated gold nanoparticles and study the parameters
affecting the loading of fluorescein on synthesized coated gold nanoparticles with the ability to be used in medical
diagnostic methods.
Methods: The synthesized gold nanoparticles were functionalized with polyethylene glycol. Then, these particles
were conjugated with fluorescein under different conditions. To investigate the optical and structural features
as well as the factors affecting the loading, the nanoparticles were evaluated by ultraviolet-visible, fluorescence
and FT-IR spectrophotometer, fluorescence spectrophotometer, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic
light scattering, and zeta potential measuring device. Also, the use of these particles in cancer diagnosis
on the skin melanoma cell (B16F10) was examined using a fluorescence microscope.
Results: PEG-coated spherical gold nanoparticles were synthesized as a carrier for the fluorescein dye detector.
The coating agent concentration, incubation time, temperature, and pH of the medium affected the loading efficiency
of fluorescein on the nanoparticles. Also, optimal conditions for use in the diagnostic applications were
investigated. Ten micromolar of the sample were selected for cell imaging studies. The fluorescence signal of
B16F10 cells containing nanoparticles was relatively strong, indicating the amount of nanoparticles uptaken by
the cells.
Conclusion: The results showed that by designing fluorescent gold nanoparticles with fluorescein as fluorescent
detectors and considering their diagnostic importance, an efficient way to diagnose incurable diseases can
be found.
