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Biocompatible Glycol Chitosan-Coated Gold Nanoparticles for Tumor-Targeting CT Imaging

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ABSTRACT

Purpose

The application of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in biomedical field was limited due to the low stability in the biological condition. Herein, to enhance stability and tumor targeting ability of AuNPs, their surface was modified with biocompatible glycol chitosan (GC) and the in vivo biodistribution of GC coated AuNPs (GC-AuNPs) were studied through computed tomography (CT).

Methods

Polymer-coated gold nanoparticles were produced using GC as a reducing agent and a stabilizer. Their feasibility in biomedical application was explored through CT in tumor-bearing mice.

Results

Stability of gold nanoparticles increased in the physiological condition due to the GC coating layer on the surface. Tomographic images of tumor were successfully obtained in the tumor-xenografted animal model when the GC-AuNPs were used as a CT contrast agent. The tumor targeting property of the gold nanoparticles was due to the properties of GC because GC-AuNPs were accumulated in the tumor, while most of heparin-coated nanoparticles were found in the liver and spleen.

Conclusions

The polymer properties on the surface played an important role in the behavior of gold nanoparticles in the biological condition and the enhanced stability and tumor targeting property of nanoparticles were inherited from GC on the surface.

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Abbreviations

AuNPs:

Gold nanoparticles

CT:

Computed tomography

EDC:

1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride

GC:

Glycol chitosan

GC-AuNPs:

Glycol chitosan coated gold nanoparticles

HEPA-AuNPs:

Heparin coated gold nanoparticles

MTT:

3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide

NHS:

N-hydroxy succinimide

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

TEM:

Transmission electron microscopy

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND DISCLOSURES

In-Cheol Sun and Jin Hee Na contributed equally to this work. This work was financially supported by the Intramural Research Program of KIST, GRL Program, and M.D.-Ph.D. Program (2010–0019863, 2010–0019864).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea

    In-Cheol Sun, Ick Chan Kwon, Kuiwon Choi & Kwangmeyung Kim

  2. Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea

    Jin Hee Na & Seo Young Jeong

  3. Department of Neurology, Dongguk University, Goyang, South Korea

    Dong-Eog Kim

  4. KU-KIST School, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea

    Ick Chan Kwon

  5. Engineering Research Institute (ERI), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea

    Cheol-Hee Ahn

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  1. In-Cheol Sun
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  2. Jin Hee Na
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Correspondence to Cheol-Hee Ahn or Kwangmeyung Kim.

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Sun, IC., Na, J.H., Jeong, S.Y. et al. Biocompatible Glycol Chitosan-Coated Gold Nanoparticles for Tumor-Targeting CT Imaging. Pharm Res 31, 1418–1425 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-013-1142-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-013-1142-0

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