Enhancing the in vivo transdermal delivery of gold nanoparticles using poly(ethylene glycol) and its oleylamine conjugate

Abstract

Pa Fan Hsiao,1–3 Sydney Peng,4 Ting-Cheng Tang,4 Shuian-Yin Lin,5 Hsieh-Chih Tsai4 1Department of Dermatology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, 2Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, 3Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, 4Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 5National Applied Research Laboratories, Instrument Technology Research Center, Hsinchu, Taiwan Abstract: In this study, we investigated the effect of (ethylene glycol) (PEG) and PEG–oleylamine (OAm) functionalization on the skin permeation property of gold nanoparticles (GNS) in vivo. Chemisorption of polymers onto GNS was verified by a red shift in the ultraviolet–visible spectrum as well as by a change in the nanoparticle surface charge. The physicochemical properties of pristine and functionalized nanoparticles were analyzed by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, zeta potential analyzer, and transmission electron microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the interparticle distance between nanoparticles increased after GNS functionalization. Comparing the skin permeation profile of pristine and functionalized GNS, the follicular deposition of GNS increased twofold after PEG–OAm functionalization. Moreover, PEG- and PEG–OAm-functionalized nanoparticles were able to overcome the skin barrier and deposit in the deeper subcutaneous adipose tissue. These findings demonstrate the potential of PEG- and PEG–OAm-functionalized GNS in serving a multitude of applications in transdermal pharmaceuticals. Keywords: skin penetration, amphiphilic copolymer, gold nanoparticle, oleylamine, poly(ethylene glycol)

Keywords

• Skin penetration
• amphiphilic copolymer
• gold nanoparticle
• oleylamine
• poly(ethylene glycol)