• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1683-1688
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• 2007

This paper presents a novel simple method for introducing gold nanoparticles in a poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP) polymer layer over a glassy carbon (GC) electrode with the aim of forming a tunable electrochemical interface against a cationic ruthenium complex. Initially, AuCl4 ? ions were spontaneously incorporated into a polymer layer containing positively charged pyridine rings in an acidic media by ion exchange. A negative potential was then applied to electrochemically reduce the incorporated AuCl4 ? ions to gold nanoparticles, which was confirmed by the FE-SEM images. The PVP layer with an appropriate thickness over the electrode blocked electron transfer between the electrode and the solution phase for the redox reactions of the cationic Ru(NH3)6 2+ ions. However, the introduction of gold nanoparticles into the polymer layer recovered the electron transfer. In addition, the electron transfer rate between the two phases could be tuned by controlling the number density of gold nanoparticles.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1617-1620
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• 2012

Background: Gold nanoparticles have recently been investigated with respect to biocompatibility according to their interactions with cells. The purpose of this study was to examine cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction by well-characterized gold nanoparticles in human breast epithelial MCF-7 cells. Methods: Apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL, cytotoxicity by MTT assay and caspase 3, 9, p53, Bax and Bcl expression by real-time PCR assays. Results: Gold nanoparticles at up to $200\;{\mu}g/mL$ for 24 hours exerted concentration-dependent cytotoxicity and significant upregulation of mRNA expression of p53, bax, caspase-3 & caspase-9, whereas expression of antiapoptotic bcl-2 was down-regulated. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge this is the first report showing that gold nanoparticles induce apoptosis in MCF-7cells via p53, bax/bcl-2 and caspase pathways.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1790-1800
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• 2002

The DNA nucleosides(dA, dC, dG, dT)bound to gold nanoparticles (~13 nm) in aqueous solution has been studied as a probe by the SERS and their coordination structures have been proposed on the basis of them. According to UV-Visible absorption of gold nanoparticles after modifying with DNA nucleosides, the rates of absorption of dA, dC, and dG were much faster than that of dT as monitored by the aggregation kinetics at 700 nm. These data indicated that the nucleosides dA, dC, and dG had a higher affinity for the gold nanoparticles surface than nucleoside dT. As the result of SERS spectra, the binding modes of each of the nucleosides on gold nanoparticles have been assigned. A dA binds to gold nanoparticles via a N(7) nitrogen atom of the imidazole ring, which the C(6)-$NH_2$ group also participates in the coordination process. In the case of dC, it binds to the gold surface via a N(3) nitrogen atom of the pyrimidine ring with a partial contribution from the oxygen of C(2)=O group. A coordination of dG to the gold surfaces is also proposed. Although the dG has the two different nitrogens of a pyrimidine ring and the amino group, the N(1) nitrogen atom of a pyrimidine ring has a higher affinity after the hydrogen migrates to the amino group. Conversely, dT binds via the oxygen of the C(4)=O group of the pyrimidine ring. Accordingly, these data suggest that the nitrogen atom of the imidazole or the pyrimidine ring in the DNA nucleosides will bind more fast to the gold nanoparticles surfaces than the oxygen atom of the carbonyl group.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.929-932
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• 2012

The classical molecular dynamics simulation was used to study the phase transition of gold nanoparticles under confinement using Sutton-Chen (SC) potential. Metal gold nanoparticles with different number of atoms are subject to replica exchange molecular dynamics simulation for this purpose. The simulation showing the solidto-liquid melting temperature largely remains unaffected by confinement, while the confinement induces characteristic pre-melting at very low temperature depending on atom number in nanoparticles.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.171-177
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• 2019

Parasitic infections have remained a significant burden on human and animal health. In part, this is due to lack of clinically-approved, novel antimicrobials and a lack of interest by the pharmaceutical industry. An alternative approach is to modify existing clinically-approved drugs for efficient delivery formulations to ensure minimum inhibitory concentration is achieved at the target site. Nanotechnology offers the potential to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of drugs through modification of nanoparticles with ligands. Amphotericin B, nystatin, and fluconazole are clinically available drugs in the treatment of amoebal and fungal infections. These drugs were conjugated with gold nanoparticles. To characterize these gold-conjugated drug, atomic force microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were performed. These drugs and their gold nanoconjugates were examined for antimicrobial activity against the protist pathogen, Acanthamoeba castellanii of the T4 genotype. Moreover, host cell cytotoxicity assays were accomplished. Cytotoxicity of these drugs and drug-conjugated gold nanoparticles was also determined by lactate dehydrogenase assay. Gold nanoparticles conjugation resulted in enhanced bioactivity of all three drugs with amphotericin B producing the most significant effects against Acanthamoeba castellanii (p < 0.05). In contrast, bare gold nanoparticles did not exhibit antimicrobial potency. Furthermore, amoebae treated with drugs-conjugated gold nanoparticles showed reduced cytotoxicity against HeLa cells. In this report, we demonstrated the use of nanotechnology to modify existing clinically-approved drugs and enhance their efficacy against pathogenic amoebae. Given the lack of development of novel drugs, this is a viable approach in the treatment of neglected diseases.

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.79-81
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• 2013

A novel method of fabricating polythiophene-gold nanoparticle composite film electrodes for photoelectric conversion is demonstrated. The method includes electrodeposition of gold and electropolymerization of 2,2'-bithiophene onto an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrode. First, electrodeposition of gold onto the ITO electrode was carried out with various repetition times of pulsed applied potential (0.25 s at -2.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl) in an aqueous solution of $HAuCl_4$. Significant progress of the number density of deposited gold nanoparticles was confirmed from scanning electron micrographs, from 4 (1 time) to 25% (15 times). Next, electropolymerization of 2,2'-bithiophene onto the above ITO electrode was performed under controlled charge condition (+1.4 V vs. Ag wire, 15 $mC/cm^2$). Structural characterization of as-fabricated films were carried out by spectroscopic and electron micrographic methods. Photocurrent responses from the sample film electrodes were investigated in the presence of electron acceptors (methyl viologen and oxygen). Photocurrent intensities increased with increasing the density of deposited gold nanoparticles up to ~10%, and tended to decrease above it. It suggests that the surplus gold nanoparticles exhibit quenching effects rather than enhancement effects based on localized electric fields induced by surface plasmon resonance of the deposited gold nanoparticles.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.286-290
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• 2011

Ginsenoside Rg3 was reported to have important biological activities. We demonstrate conjugation and quantification procedures of ginsenoside Rg3 to gold nanoparticles for future biological and medical applications. Ginsenoside Rg3 was conjugated to spherical gold nanoparticles using a bifunctional heptaethylene glycol linker. The sulfhydryl group of heptaethylene glycol was adsorbed onto gold nanoparticles, and carboxylic acid end of heptaethylene glycol was bonded through a hydroxyl group of Rg3 via ester bond formation. The conjugation of Rg3 was characterized with various spectroscopic techniques, high resolution-transmission electron microscopy, and using Rg3 monoclonal antibody. The Rg3- functionalized gold nanoparticles were $4.7{\pm}1.0$ nm in diameter with a surface charge of -4.12 mV. The total number of Rg3 molecules conjugated to a 3.6 mL solution of gold nanoparticle was determined to be $9.5{\times}10^{14}$ corresponding to ~6 molecules of Rg3/gold nanoparticle. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rg3 is successfully conjugated to gold nanoparticles via heptaethylene glycol linker. The quantification was performed by using Rg3 monoclonal antibody without interference of gold's intrinsic color.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.313-319
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• 2012

Various nanomaterials may flow into the aquatic ecosystem via production, use, and treatment processes. Especially, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were categorized as manufactured nanomaterials presented by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (OECD WPMN) in 2010. AuNPs have been used in medical area, however, they were reported to induce cytotoxicity and oxidative DNA damage, as well as down-regulation of the DNA repair gene in mice and human cell lines. In this study, the aquatic toxicity data of AuNPs and gold ions were collected, with the specific test methods analyzed with respect to the form and size of AuNPs, test species, exposure duration, and endpoints. Currently, aquatic toxicity data of AuNPs and gold ions have been presented in 14 studies including 4 fish, 6 crustacean, 2 green algae, and 2 macrophytes studies, as well as a further 8 studies including 4 fish, 4 crustacean, 1 platyhelminthes, and 1 green algae, respectively. The AuNPs were 0.8-100 nm in size, as gold nanoparticles, gold nanorod, glycodendrimer-coated gold nanoparticles, and amine-coated gold nanoparticles. The tested endpoints were the individual toxicities, such as mortality, malformation, reproduction inhibition, growth inhibition and genetic toxicity such as oxidative stress, gene expression, and reactive oxygen species formation. The accumulation of AuNPs was also confirmed in the various receptor organs. These results are expected to be useful in understanding the aquatic toxicity of AuNPs and gold ions, as well as being applicable to future toxicity studies on AuNPs.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 2012

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have led to the development of a new field in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer. An efficient synthesis of gold nanoparticles within the range of 8~57 nm was established by ${\gamma}-ray$ irradiation. The good point of a radiation-based method is the production of gold nanoparticles with a higher concentration and narrower size distribution compared with conventional methods. The size of gold nanoparticles was controlled using two methods. : (i) varying the ${\gamma}-ray$ irradiation dose of 10 to 25 kGy and (ii) varying the concentration of $HAuCl_4$ solution from 4 to 40 mM. In addition, the GNPs were radiolabeled using $[^{125}I]NaI$ in a simple and fast manner with high yields. The produced gold nanoparticles were characterized using a transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a UV-visible spectrophotometer, and a radio-TLC imaging scanner. From these results, these radiolabeled GNPs can be applicable for a radioisotope tag of biomolecules.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.462-465
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• 2019

Nanoscale gold particles have been intensively researched due to their potential applications in catalysis, electronics, plasmonics, and biological assays. In our study, we fabricated gold nanoparticles (NPs) that were synthesized in an aqueous environment via the reduction of $HAuCl_4$ by ascorbic acid (AC) with a sodium citrate (SC) surfactant. Highly monodispersed gold particles with sizes ranging from 123 to 184 nm were prepared in high-yield by a surfactant concentration. The structural and optical properties of the synthesized gold nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-vis spectroscopy. The prepared nanoparticles exhibited efficient surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties that were dependent on their on size.