Efficient Gene Delivery Vectors by Tuning the Surface Charge Density of Amino Acid-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

Gold colloids functionalized with amino acids provide a scaffold for effective DNA binding with subsequent condensation. Particles with lysine and lysine dendron functionality formed particularly compact complexes and provided highly efficient gene delivery without any observed cytotoxicity. Nanoparticles functionalized with first generation lysine dendrons (NP−LysG1) were ∼28-fold superior to polylysine in reporter gene expression. These amino acid-based nanoparticles were responsive to intracellular glutathione levels, providing a tool for controlled release and concomitant expression of DNA.