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Updated: Feb 8, 2026
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Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis
Published on: July 10, 2021
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Development and evaluation of fluorescent gold nanoparticles.
Ahmed A H Abdellatif1,2, Hesham M Tawfeek3,4
1a Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy , Al Azhar University , Assuit , Egypt.
Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy
|June 26, 2018
Summary
Researchers developed fluorescent gold nanoparticles (QDs-Au-NPs) for easy intracellular detection. These stable, single nanoparticles combine quantum dots (QDs) and gold, overcoming previous limitations in imaging.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Imaging
- Materials Science
Background:
- Intracellular identification of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is challenging due to their non-fluorescent nature.
- Combining gold nanoparticles with fluorophores like quantum dots (QDs) is difficult because gold quenches fluorescence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prepare a single, fluorescent, and stable gold nanoparticle combined with quantum dots (QDs-Au-NPs).
- To enable easy intracellular detection of these novel nanoparticles.
Main Methods:
- QDs-Au-NPs were synthesized in a one-step process using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a space linker.
- Particles were coated with somatostatin (SST) to target somatostatin receptors (SSTRs).
- Internalization was assessed using confocal laser scanning spectroscopy and flow cytometry.
Main Results:
- A stable, monodisperse QDs-Au-NPs structure with a 2.0 ± 0.2 nm gold shell was successfully prepared.
- QDs-Au-NPs retained fluorescence intensity comparable to unmodified QDs.
- Cellular uptake studies in breast adenocarcinoma cell lines demonstrated easy detection of QDs-Au-SST-NPs via confocal microscopy and significant internalization via flow cytometry.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized QDs-Au-NPs exhibit strong fluorescence, similar to QDs.
- These nanoparticles are easily detectable after cellular internalization, offering a promising tool for intracellular imaging.
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