Gold nanoparticles explore cells: cellular uptake and their use as intracellular probes

Anna Huefner; Dedy Septiadi; Bodo D Wilts; Imran I Patel; Wei-Li Kuan; Alexandra Fragniere; Roger A Barker; Sumeet Mahajan

doi:10.1016/j.ymeth.2014.02.006

Gold nanoparticles explore cells: cellular uptake and their use as intracellular probes

Methods. 2014 Jul 1;68(2):354-63. doi: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2014.02.006. Epub 2014 Feb 28.

Authors

Anna Huefner¹, Dedy Septiadi², Bodo D Wilts³, Imran I Patel⁴, Wei-Li Kuan⁵, Alexandra Fragniere⁵, Roger A Barker⁵, Sumeet Mahajan⁶

Affiliations

¹ Sector for Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK; Institute of Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK.
² Sector for Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK; Institut de Science de d'Ingénierie Supremoléculaires, Université de Strasbourg, 8 Allée Gaspard Monge, 67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France.
³ Sector for Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK.
⁴ Sector for Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK; Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK; Institute of Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK.
⁵ John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0PY, UK.
⁶ Sector for Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK; Institute of Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK. Electronic address: s.mahajan@soton.ac.uk.

PMID: 24583117
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2014.02.006

Abstract

Understanding uptake of nanomaterials by cells and their use for intracellular sensing is important for studying their interaction and toxicology as well as for obtaining new biological insight. Here, we investigate cellular uptake and intracellular dynamics of gold nanoparticles and demonstrate their use in reporting chemical information from the endocytotic pathway and cytoplasm. The intracellular gold nanoparticles serve as probes for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) allowing for biochemical characterisation of their local environment. In particular, in this work we compare intracellular SERS using non-functionalised and functionalised nanoparticles in their ability to segregate different but closely related cell phenotypes. The results indicate that functionalised gold nanoparticles are more efficient in distinguishing between different types of cells. Our studies pave the way for understanding the uptake of gold nanoparticles and their utilisation for SERS to give rise to a greater biochemical understanding in cell-based therapies.

Keywords: Gold nanoparticles; Intracellular imaging; Nanoparticle uptake; SERS; Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

MeSH terms

Cell Tracking / methods
Cytoplasm / chemistry
Endocytosis
Gold / chemistry*
Humans
Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
Spectrum Analysis, Raman / methods*

Substances

Gold