I have biosynthesized GNPs and wanted to check their cytotoxicity to cancer cells. But after dissolving GNPs in PBS buffer, particles settle down after some time.
Radioactive colloidal has been used pretty long back for the palliative treatment of Ascitis (collection of fluid in the peritoneal cavity of abdomen) with occasional effect. Research on various use of Non-radioactive gold as nano particles is progressing and plenty of results are available in the internet.
Thank you Dr. Fabrizio for your suggestion, I really appreciate it.
Thank you Dr. Narayanan Bhattahiri for your reply. I understand there are plenty of results in the internet but I wanted to listen from somebody who personally have experience in this regard.
... naked gold NPs do exist. Just think to physically produced nanoparticles (laser ablation in pure water is a facile example). I'm not an expert in toxicity of gold NPs against cancer cells, but I think that such NPs should be addressed to specific cells, so that a carrier or a specific functionalization would be needed (e.g., defined antibody decorating the particle). In that case stabilization will be an issue concerning the whole structure (e.g., proper choice of the micro- or nano- carrier may provide the needed stability)
It's always a quandary. You want to test the toxicity of your AuNPs, but in order to that properly, you need the particles to remain relatively stable colloidally in the test medium during the assay period. In order to obtain colloidal stability in salt containing solutions/media, the particles typically must by protected/capped by something that will provide steric stability since electrostatic effects will be screened out by the salt containing solutions. But then you are testing the AuNP with its organic corona and not just the gold NPs. One possible approach is to stabilize the gold with BSA or HSA prior to dosing into the medium. Albumin is a fairly good stabilizing agent and is found in blood and many bio test media (e.g., DMEM + FBS). Also, the albumin itself is generally non-toxic, even when using a different species (BSA) for testing human cell lines (at least in terms of acute toxicity...it is possible the BSA can develop chronic toxicity effects over much longer times - I am told by toxicologists). I am not a tox expert, but very knowledgeable in the AuNP/bio area. Hope this helps.
Thank you Dr. Vincent for your brief explanation. I am very grateful to you.
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