Surface Modified Gold Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

Nanotechnology has been one of the most active areas of multidisciplinary research due to the broad range of potential applications that arise from unique material properties of nano-structured materials. Because of their small nano scale, nanoparticles can cross biological cell walls allowing for targeted delivery of medical agents used to treat cancer and other diseases. For this research, the focus is on the fundamental properties of gold (Au) nanoparticles. Nano-sized gold particles have attributes which can be controlled during a carefully planned synthesis process. Characteristics like size-and shape determine their unique optical properties. Gold is of current interest for biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility and low toxicity. Gold nanoparticles were be prepared by reducing Gold (III) chloride with trisodium citrate as the reducing agent to get particles sized between 5-20 nanometers, followed by stabilization with a capping agent. The capping agent used was polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) that serves as surface stabilizer, growth modifier, and reducing agent. Introduction of PVP, in two distinct methods, to the gold nanoparticles were compared and evident that the polymer is beneficial in limiting agglomeration of the gold nanoparticles for both of the methods.