Biological interactions of a gold nanoparticle library with applications in nanomedicine

• Grant number: 13/18481-5
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2014
• End date: March 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Alioscka Augusto Sousa
• Grantee: Alioscka Augusto Sousa
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are well-defined nanostructures having core sizes below 3 nm and compact organic ligand shells. They constitute a versatile platform supporting a wide array of therapeutic applications in nanomedicine. However, despite much work in the area, it remains a challenge to define how the size and surface composition of AuNPs can be tuned in order to achieve a desired biological response. Therefore, in this research project a simple and flexible method will be developed for the synthesis of a AuNP library comprising ultrasmall and highly uniform particles having a diverse set of physicochemical properties. The AuNPs will be passivated with a tripeptide monolayer, which will allow for a precise control of the nanoparticles' surface chemistry via the functional groups present in the 20 natural aminoacids. Biological interactions of the AuNPs with proteins and cells in vitro will be then mapped as a function of the nanoparticles' physicochemical properties. These experiments will establish how the surface composition of ultrasmall AuNPs can be precisely modulated with tripeptides for obtaining desired biological responses. In addition to their potential as nanomedicines, the AuNPs of the library should constitute excellent model systems for probing and helping decode fundamental biological processes. (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LIRA, ANDRE L.; FERREIRA, RODRIGO S.; TORQUATO, RICARDO J. S.; ZHAO, HUAYING; OLIVA, MARIA LUIZA V.; HASSAN, SERGIO A.; SCHUCK, PETER; SOUSA, ALIOSCKA A.. Binding kinetics of ultrasmall gold nanoparticles with proteins. NANOSCALE, v. 10, n. 7, p. 3235-3244, FEB 21 2018. (13/18481-5)

SOUSA, ALIOSCKA A.; HASSAN, SERGIO A.; KNITTEL, LUIZA L.; BALBO, ANDREA; ARONOVA, MARIA A.; BROWN, PATRICK H.; SCHUCKC, PETER; LEAPMAN, RICHARD D.. Biointeractions of ultrasmall glutathione-coated gold nanoparticles: effect of small size variations. NANOSCALE, v. 8, n. 12, p. 6577-6588, 2016. (13/18481-5)

LIRA, ANDRE L.; FERREIRA, RODRIGO S.; TORQUATO, RICARDO J. S.; OLIVA, V, MARIA LUIZA; SCHUCK, PETER; SOUSA, ALIOSCKA A.. Allosteric inhibition of alpha-thrombin enzymatic activity with ultrasmall gold nanoparticles. NANOSCALE ADVANCES, v. 1, n. 1, p. 378-388, JAN 1 2019. (13/18481-5)

KNITTEL, LUIZA L.; SCHUCK, PETER; ACKERSON, CHRISTOPHER J.; SOUSA, ALIOSCKA A.. Zwitterionic glutathione monoethyl ester as a new capping ligand for ultrasmall gold nanoparticles. RSC ADVANCES, v. 6, n. 52, p. 46350-46355, 2016. (13/18481-5)

SOUSA, ALIOSCKA A.. A Note on the use of Steady-State Fluorescence Quenching to Quantify Nanoparticle-Protein Interactions. Journal of Fluorescence, v. 25, n. 6, p. 1567-1575, NOV 2015. (13/18481-5)