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Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Evaluation of Nanoparticle Uptake in Tumors in Real Time Using Intravital Imaging
Published on: June 21, 2011
Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles as Biosensors for Monitoring Cellular Uptake and Localization in Normal and Tumor
Marianna Pannico1, Anna Calarco2, Gianfranco Peluso3
1Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy. marianna.pannico@ipcb.cnr.it.
Abstract:
In the present contribution the fabrication and characterization of functionalized gold nanospheres of uniform shape and controlled size is reported. These nano-objects are intended to be used as Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) sensors for in-vitro cellular uptake and localization. Thiophenol was used as molecular reporter and was bound to the Au surface by a chemisorption process in aqueous solution. The obtained colloidal solution was highly stable and no aggregation of the single nanospheres into larger clusters was observed. The nanoparticles were incubated in human prostatic cells with the aim of developing a robust, SERS-based method to differentiate normal and tumor cell lines. SERS imaging experiments showed that tumor cells uptake considerably larger amounts of nanoparticles in comparison to normal cells (up to 950% more); significant differences were also observed in the uptake kinetics. This largely different behaviour might be exploited in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
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