Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 6, 2025
Preparation and Photoacoustic Analysis of Cellular Vehicles Containing Gold Nanorods
Published on: May 2, 2016
Macrophage-Assisted Dissolution of Gold Nanoparticles
Ulrika Carlander, Klara Midander, Yolanda S Hedberg1
1School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Chemistry, Division of Surface and Corrosion Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Drottning Kristinas väg 51, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden.
Smaller gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) dissolve more in macrophages, especially when these cells are stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Macrophage presence and inflammatory state significantly impact AuNP dissolution, influencing their fate in the body.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are widely used due to their biocompatibility and functionalizability.
- AuNPs accumulate in macrophages, immune cells that process foreign materials.
- Understanding AuNP dissolution is crucial for assessing their in vivo fate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of macrophages, particularly inflammatory conditions, on gold nanoparticle dissolution.
- To determine if AuNP dissolution is size-dependent in the presence of macrophages.
- To explore the role of biomolecules in AuNP dissolution.
Main Methods:
- An in vitro method was developed to compare the dissolution of 5 nm and 50 nm citrate-coated AuNPs.
- Dissolution was measured by released gold ions using inductive coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
- AuNPs were incubated in cell medium alone, with macrophages, and with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-triggered macrophages.
Main Results:
- AuNPs showed time-dependent dissolution in cell medium (3% for 5 nm, 0.6% for 50 nm after 1 week).
- Dissolution of 5 nm AuNPs increased to 4% with macrophages and 14% with LPS-triggered macrophages.
- 50 nm AuNPs showed only a minor increase in dissolution even with LPS-triggered macrophages.
Conclusions:
- AuNP dissolution is significantly influenced by nanoparticle size.
- The presence and inflammatory state of macrophages enhance AuNP dissolution.
- Findings are critical for understanding the in vivo transformation and fate of gold nanoparticles.
