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Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Gold Nanoparticle Modified Carbon Fiber Microelectrodes for Enhanced Neurochemical Detection
Published on: May 13, 2019
Truly-Biocompatible Gold Catalysis Enables Vivo-Orthogonal Intra-CNS Release of Anxiolytics
M Carmen Ortega-Liebana1, Nicola J Porter2, Catherine Adam1
1Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre Institute of Genetics & Cancer University of Edinburgh Edinburgh EH4 2XU UK.
Abstract:
Being recognized as the best-tolerated of all metals, the catalytic potential of gold (Au) has thus far been hindered by the ubiquitous presence of thiols in organisms. Herein we report the development of a truly-catalytic Au-polymer composite by assembling ultrasmall Au-nanoparticles at the protein-repelling outer layer of a co-polymer scaffold via electrostatic loading. Illustrating the in vivo-compatibility of the novel catalysts, we show their capacity to uncage the anxiolytic agent fluoxetine at the central nervous system (CNS) of developing zebrafish, influencing their swim pattern. This bioorthogonal strategy has enabled -for the first time- modification of cognitive activity by releasing a neuroactive agent directly in the brain of an animal.
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