Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026
Synthesis of Functionalized 10-nm Polymer-coated Gold Particles for Endothelium Targeting and Drug Delivery
Published on: January 15, 2018
Improving gold nanorod delivery to the central nervous system by conjugation to the shuttle Angiopep-2
Carolina Velasco-Aguirre1, Francisco Morales-Zavala1, Edison Salas-Huenuleo1
1Departamento de Química Farmacológica y Toxicológica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Santiago, Chile.
Aim:
To improve the in vivo delivery of gold nanorods (GNRs) to the central nervous system of rats, these gold nanoparticles were conjugated to Angiopep-2, a shuttle peptide that can cross the blood-brain barrier.
Materials & Methods:
GNRs were synthesized and modified using polyethylene glycol and Angiopep-2 (GNR-PEG-Angiopep-2). The physicochemical properties, in vitro cytotoxicity and ex vivo biodistribution of the conjugate were examined.
Results:
GNR-PEG-Angiopep-2 was stable over the following days, and the different concentrations that were tested did not affect the viability of microvascular endothelial cells. The conjugation of Angiopep-2 to GNRs enhanced the endocytosis of these particles (in vitro) and the accumulation in brains (in vivo), when compared with GNRs modified only with PEG.
Conclusion:
This study provides evidence that Angiopep-2 improves the delivery of GNRs to the brain parenchyma. This property is highly relevant for future applications of GNRs as platforms for photothermal and theranostic purposes.
