Prospecting Cellular Gold Nanoparticle Biomineralization as a Viable Alternative to Prefabricated Gold Nanoparticles

Authors

Aaron S Schwartz-Duval
Konstantin V Sokolov

Publication Date

7-1-2022

Journal

Advanced Science

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have shown considerable potential in a vast number of biomedical applications. However, currently there are no clinically approved injectable GNP formulations. Conversely, gold salts have been used in the clinic for nearly a century. Further, there is evidence of GNP formation in patients treated with gold salts (i.e., chrysiasis). Recent reports evaluating this phenomenon in human cells and in murine models indicate that the use of gold ions for in situ formation of theranostic GNPs could greatly improve the delivery within dense biological tissues, increase efficiency of intracellular gold uptake, and specificity of GNP formation within cancer cells. These attributes in combination with safe clinical application of gold salts make this process a viable strategy for clinical translation. Here, the first summary of the current knowledge related to GNP biomineralization in mammalian cells is provided along with critical assessment of potential biomedical applications of this newly emergent field.

Keywords

Animals, Biomineralization, Gold, Gold Compounds, Humans, Mammals, Metal Nanoparticles, Mice, Salts

DOI

10.1002/advs.202105957

PMID

35508715

PMCID

PMC9284136

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

5-4-2022

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes