Impact of Sterilization on the Colloidal Stability of Ligand-Free Gold Nanoparticles for Biomedical ApplicationsClick to copy article linkArticle link copied!
- Jacob JohnyJacob JohnyTechnical Chemistry I and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, GermanyTechnical Chemistry I and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, GermanyMore by Jacob Johny
- Charlotte E. R. van HalterenCharlotte E. R. van HalterenTechnical Chemistry I and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, GermanyMore by Charlotte E. R. van Halteren
- Sandra ZwiehoffSandra ZwiehoffTechnical Chemistry I and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, GermanyMore by Sandra Zwiehoff
- Carina BehrendsCarina BehrendsWest German Cancer Centre (WTZ), University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, GermanyDepartment of Physics, TU Dortmund University, 44227 Dortmund, GermanyWest German Proton Therapy Centre Essen (WPE), 45147 Essen, GermanyMore by Carina Behrends
- Christian BäumerChristian BäumerWest German Cancer Centre (WTZ), University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, GermanyDepartment of Physics, TU Dortmund University, 44227 Dortmund, GermanyWest German Proton Therapy Centre Essen (WPE), 45147 Essen, GermanyGerman Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, GermanyMore by Christian Bäumer
- Beate TimmermannBeate TimmermannWest German Cancer Centre (WTZ), University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, GermanyWest German Proton Therapy Centre Essen (WPE), 45147 Essen, GermanyGerman Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, GermanyDepartment of Particle Therapy, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, GermanyFaculty of Medicine, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, GermanyMore by Beate Timmermann
- Christoph RehbockChristoph RehbockTechnical Chemistry I and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, GermanyMore by Christoph Rehbock
- Stephan Barcikowski*Stephan Barcikowski*Email: [email protected]Technical Chemistry I and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, GermanyMore by Stephan Barcikowski
Abstract
Sterilization is a major prerequisite for the utilization of nanoparticle colloids in biomedicine, a process well examined for particles derived from chemical synthesis although highly underexplored for electrostatically stabilized ligand-free gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Hence, in this work, we comprehensively examined and compared the physicochemical characteristics of laser-generated ligand-free colloidal AuNPs exposed to steam sterilization and sterile filtration as a function of particle size and mass concentration and obtained physicochemical insight into particle growth processes. These particles exhibit long-term colloidal stability (up to 3 months) derived from electrostatic stabilization without using any ligands or surfactants. We show that particle growth attributed to cluster-based ripening occurs in smaller AuNPs (∼5 nm) following autoclaving, while larger particles (∼10 and ∼30 nm) remain stable. Sterile filtration, as an alternative effective sterilizing approach, has no substantial impact on the colloidal stability of AuNPs, regardless of particle size, although a mass loss of 5–10% is observed. Finally, we evaluated the impact of the sterilization procedures on potential particle functionality in proton therapy, using the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a readout. In particular, 5 nm AuNPs exhibit a significant loss in activity upon autoclaving, probably dedicated to specific surface area reduction and surface restructuring during particle growth. The filtered analog enhanced the ROS release by up to a factor of ∼2.0, at 30 ppm gold concentration. Our findings highlight the need for carefully adapting the sterilization procedure of ligand-free NPs to the desired biomedical application with special emphasis on particle size and concentration.
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