Smart Antibody-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles for Bioengineered Polymers

Au and Ag nanoparticles (NP) were synthesized using a green method that allows control of both particle size and surface chemistry. The gold and silver nanoparticles were coated with a fluorescent goat anti-body IgG that chemically incorporated the nanoparticles and the internalization behavior was studied by phagocytosis in murine peritoneal macrophages. Despite that, in principle, the presence of a simple metal induces a greater degree of cell death following the particle uptake, our results suggest that a large part of the silver and gold nanoparticles enter cells by means other than endocytosis and phagocytosis, as truly intelligent nanoparticles. This represents a potential for immunotherapy and studies to modulate the innate immune response as truly smart nanoparticles.