Development of Polyethylene Glycol-Conjugated Chitosan Oligosaccharide Derivative-Stabilized Gold Nanoassemblies

Abstract

Gold nanoassemblies (AuNAs) stabilized by chitosan oligosaccharide (CSO), chitosan oligosaccharide-arachidic acid (CSOAA), and chitosan oligosaccharide-arachidic acid-polyethylene glycol (CSOAA-PEG) were fabricated and evaluated. CSOAA was synthesized by amide bond formation between CSO and arachidic acid (AA), and CSOAA-PEG was then prepared by amide bond formation between CSOAA and methoxypolyethylene glycol succinimidyl succinate (mPEGSS). All AuNAs, such as CSO-stabilized AuNA (C/AuNA), CSOAA-stabilized AuNA (CA/AuNA), and CSOAA-PEG-stabilized AuNA (CAPE/AuNA), exhibited < 150 nm hydrodynamic size in the aqueous environment. Unlike C/AuNA and CA/AuNA groups, CAPE/AuNA exhibited similar particle size in aqueous buffer and serum conditions as well as in water. The results of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurement provided corresponded particle size of all AuNA groups, which determined by an electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) method. Developed AuNAs also did not show serious cytotoxicity in A549 (human lung adenocarcinoma) and U87-MG (human glioblastoma) cells within tested Au concentration range. Conclusively, CAPE can be used for the fabrication of hybrid AuNAs which are stable in the blood stream.