Multiplexable and Scalable Aqueous Synthesis Platform for Oleate-Based, Bilayer-Coated Gold Nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Nanomaterials Science
• Colloid Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are crucial in nanomedicine but expensive due to synthesis limitations.
• Current methods often lack scalability, precise size control, and high particle concentrations.
• High costs hinder widespread adoption and application development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective, scalable, and precise synthesis for lipid bilayer-coated gold nanoparticles.
• To enable high particle concentrations and facilitate multiplexed reactions.
• To demonstrate the versatility and applicability of the synthesized gold nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Seed-free synthesis of gold nanoparticles in water using sodium oleate as both reductant and capping agent.
• Utilized conventional thermocyclers for multiplexed reactions in 96-well plates.
• Employed microcentrifugation for simple particle purification and ligand exchange for surface functionalization.

Main Results:

• Achieved precise size control (8-30 nm) and high particle concentration (10 mm Au).
• Demonstrated scalability to gram-level production.
• Synthesized gold nanoparticles exhibited stability at physiological pH, in cell culture media, and were autoclavable.
• Successfully performed ligand exchange with thiolated polyethylene glycol analogues.

Conclusions:

• The presented sodium oleate-based synthesis offers a highly efficient, scalable, and cost-effective route to gold nanoparticles.
• The method's precision, concentration, and stability make the nanoparticles suitable for diverse nanomedicine and diagnostic applications.
• This approach facilitates standardized, multiplexed synthesis and investigation of nanoparticle growth dynamics.