Gold nanoparticles provide an ideal way to deliver genetic material, proteins, drugs, and small molecules into the body. It demonstrates low toxicity, easily controllable synthesis and morphology, and can be quickly adapted to serve as carriers. We synthesized 20nm gold nanoparticles using a modified Turkevich method with trisodium citrate as the reducing and capping agent. A monolayer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) is obtained by performing a thiol-ligand exchange reaction between the MUA and the citrate stabilized gold nanoparticles. 4-(4-Aminophenyl)butyric acid (4-PBA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor and chemical chaperone, is conjugated to the particles using EDC and NHS under closely controlled pH conditions. The synthesis and functionalization processes are monitored using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) size measurement, zeta potential measurement, and Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. Results from this study show a successful gold nanoparticle synthesis, monolayer formation, and chemical conjugation of 4-PBA. Post cojugation and purification, shows an increase in the size of the nanoparticles and a bathochromic shift in the maximum absorbance wavelength indicating successful covalent attachment of 4-PBA to gold nanoparticles. Additionally, our results revealed that colloidal stability of the nanoparticles as determined by zeta-potential remained high enough to promote a monodisperse solution and prevent aggregation through electrostatic repulsion.

Bioconjugation of 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) to gold nanoparticle

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ACS Fall 2022

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