Precision control of the large-scale green synthesis of biodegradable gold nanodandelions as potential radiotheranostics

Biomater Sci. 2019 Nov 1;7(11):4720-4729. doi: 10.1039/c9bm00897g. Epub 2019 Sep 9.

Abstract

Herein, we report a new type of biodegradable, high surface-area gold nanodandelions (GNDs). This report possesses important features and some are the first of its kind: (1) the large scale green synthesis of GNDs with high monodispersity and a circa 100% yield with consistent chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC); (2) cellular/physiological degradability of GNDs leading to its disassembly into debris, which is indicative of the potential for possible body clearance; (3) precision control of the chemicophysical properties of the GNDs including shape, petal number and size, all can be judiciously fine-tuned by the synthetic parameters; (4) highly efficient radiotheranostics of GNDs encompassing better enhanced computed tomography (CT) contrast and pronounced X-ray induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation than conventional spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNP). It is noteworthy that the GNDs demonstrate a unique combinational effect of radiosensitization (production of superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals) and type II photodynamic interaction (generation of singlet oxygen). Given the above, our reported GNDs are promising in clinical translation as radiotheranostics.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Female
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Gold / metabolism
  • Gold / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
  • Particle Size
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / chemistry
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / metabolism
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / pharmacology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / analysis
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Surface Properties
  • Theranostic Nanomedicine*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Gold