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Characterization of L-cysteine methyl ester hydrochloride–stabilized gold nanoparticles

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Abstract

The synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by bottom-up methods, such as redox reactions using amino acids and gold salts, has turned out to be a novel method for obtaining nanoparticles due to the reducing properties of these biomolecules and the ability to give the nanoparticle peculiar physicochemical characteristics for its biological application, thus derived from the known structure and amino acids functional groups. In this sense, this work shows the characterization using UV-Vis, DLS, FTIR, XPS, and HRTEM techniques of AuNPs synthesized using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as a reducing compound and L-cysteine methyl ester hydrochloride (cysteine precursor) (HSCH2CH (NH2) COOCH3 • HCl) as a stabilizing agent. The above elucidates the reaction mechanisms for the formation of the nanoparticle through these reactions, as well as the stabilizing action and possible reducing potential of cysteine. Likewise, the resulting Cis@AuNP compounds were subjected to a preliminary biological evaluation using cell viability toxicity tests. The Cis@AuNPs showed high colloidal stability in a pH range of 3 to 11, where the L-cysteine methyl ester hydrochloride functional groups strongly influenced the hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential behavior. Cytotoxicity assays in mouse leukocytes demonstrated the safety of these nanoparticles. These encouraging results open the way to explore the biological application potential of these systems with the perspective of their possible application in vaccinology.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by CONACYT (Grant: FC-2016/2820; Grant: 316934). The authors are grateful to the technical staff René Rebollar Prudente (Biotechnology of Marine Organisms Laboratory) and Guadalupe Sánchez Castro (Bioterium) for their technical support and Diana Fischer for the English edition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Immunology & Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, B. C. S., 23096, México

    Ana Aguilera-Juárez, Elizabeth Monreal Escalante, Martha Reyes-Becerril & Carlos Angulo

  2. CONAHCYT-Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, B. C. S., 23096, México

    Luis Hernández-Adame & Elizabeth Monreal Escalante

  3. CONAHCYT-CINVESTAV-IPN Unidad Mérida, Departamento de Física Aplicada, 97310, Mérida, Yucatán, C. P, Mexico

    Miguel Ángel Ruíz-Gómez

  4. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava Num. 6, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, S. L. P., C. P., 78210, México

    Sergio Rosales-Mendoza

  5. Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona 550, Lomas 2a. Sección, San Luis Potosí, 78210, México

    Sergio Rosales-Mendoza

  6. Division de Materiales Avanzados, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Camino a la Presa San José 2055, Col. Lomas 4 Sección, 78216, San Luis Potosi, S. L. P, Mexico

    Héctor G. Silva Pereyra

Authors
  1. Ana Aguilera-Juárez
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  2. Luis Hernández-Adame
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  3. Miguel Ángel Ruíz-Gómez
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  4. Elizabeth Monreal Escalante
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  5. Martha Reyes-Becerril
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  6. Sergio Rosales-Mendoza
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  7. Héctor G. Silva Pereyra
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  8. Carlos Angulo
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Contributions

AA-J, LH-A, and CA designed the study. AAJ, MAR-G, and HGSP conducted the synthesis and physicochemical characterization of gold nanoparticles. EM-E and MR conducted the experimental bioassays. AAJ and CA wrote the first draft. CA, LH-A, SR-M, and MAR-G edited the manuscript. All authors approved the last version of the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Luis Hernández-Adame or Carlos Angulo.

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Aguilera-Juárez, A., Hernández-Adame, L., Ruíz-Gómez, M.Á. et al. Characterization of L-cysteine methyl ester hydrochloride–stabilized gold nanoparticles. Gold Bull 56, 179–189 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13404-024-00340-y

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