Evaluation of CTAB coated gold nanoparticles as a potential carrier for gene delivery

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) exhibit a variety of attractive physical, chemical, optical, thermal, and biological properties, making them potential candidates for non-toxic drug and gene delivery carriers. The surface modifications of AuNPs vastly enhance their circulation, minimize aggregation rates, and increase their targeting capability. In this investigation, cetyltrimethylammonium (CTAB) coated AuNPs were prepared and characterized for potential application in gene delivery. This surface modification can lead to the improvement of dispersibility and stability in aqueous solution, and surface charge density. In this study, CTAB coated AuNPs were complexed with plasmid DNA (pUMVC3-hIL-12) via electrostatic interaction and resulted in the formation of nano-sized CTAB-AuNP/plasmid DNA complexes with the size of 84.7±9.8 nm. The zeta potential of these complexes was surface +4 mV at carrier: plasmid (C/P) ratio of 10. These complexes could condense the pDNA at C/P ratios of 8 and 10 and protect it against nuclease enzyme at C/P ratios of 4, 8, and 10. This study suggests that CTAB coated gold nanoparticles can be tested for potential applications in nucleic acid delivery.