Abstract
Nanotechnology has virtually exploded in the last few years with seemingly limitless opportunity across all segments of our society. If gene and RNA therapy are to ever realize their full potential, there is a great need for nanomaterials that can bind, stabilize, and deliver these macromolecular nucleic acids into human cells and tissues. Many researchers have turned to gold nanomaterials, as gold is thought to be relatively well tolerated in humans and provides an inert material upon which nucleic acids can attach. Here, we review the various strategies for associating macromolecular nucleic acids to the surface of gold nanoparticles (GNPs), the characterization chemistries involved, and the potential advantages of GNPs in terms of stabilization and delivery.
Department(s)
Biomedical Sciences
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Document Type
Article
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2147/nsa.s8984
Rights Information
© 2010 The authors. Publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd. This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, provided the original work is properly cited.
Keywords
gold, nanoparticles, nanomaterials, RNA, nucleic acid
Publication Date
2010
Recommended Citation
DeLong, Robert K., Christopher M. Reynolds, Yaneika Malcolm, Ashley Schaeffer, Tiffany Severs, and Adam Wanekaya. "Functionalized gold nanoparticles for the binding, stabilization, and delivery of therapeutic DNA, RNA, and other biological macromolecules." Nanotechnology, science and applications 3 (2010): 53.
Journal Title
Nanotechnology, Science and Applications
