Superficial Characteristics and Functionalization Effectiveness of Non-Toxic Glutathione-Capped Magnetic, Fluorescent, Metallic and Hybrid Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications
C. Fernández-Ponce,
J. M. Mánuel,
R. Fernández-Cisnal,
E. Félix,
J. Beato-López,
J. P. Muñoz-Miranda,
A. M. Beltrán,
A. J. Santos,
F. M. Morales,
M. P. Yeste,
O. Bomati-Miguel,
R. Litrán,
F. García-Cózar
Affiliations
C. Fernández-Ponce
Department of Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health, University of Cadiz and Institute of Biomedical Research Cadiz (INIBICA), 11003 Cadiz, Spain
J. M. Mánuel
Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Sciences, IMEYMAT: Institute of Research on Electron Microscopy and Materials, University of Cádiz, Puerto Real, 11510 Cadiz, Spain
R. Fernández-Cisnal
Department of Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health, University of Cadiz and Institute of Biomedical Research Cadiz (INIBICA), 11003 Cadiz, Spain
E. Félix
Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Sciences, IMEYMAT: Institute of Research on Electron Microscopy and Materials, University of Cádiz, Puerto Real, 11510 Cadiz, Spain
J. Beato-López
Departamento de Ciencias, Institute for Advanced Materials (INAMAT), Campus de Arrosadia, Universidad Pública de tgNavarra, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
J. P. Muñoz-Miranda
Department of Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health, University of Cadiz and Institute of Biomedical Research Cadiz (INIBICA), 11003 Cadiz, Spain
A. M. Beltrán
Departamento de Ingeniería y Ciencia de los Materiales y del Transporte, Sevilla 41011, Spain
A. J. Santos
Department of Materials Science and Metallurgic Engineering, and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, IMEYMAT: Institute of Research on Electron Microscopy and Materials University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, 11510 Cadiz, Spain
F. M. Morales
Department of Materials Science and Metallurgic Engineering, and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, IMEYMAT: Institute of Research on Electron Microscopy and Materials University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, 11510 Cadiz, Spain
M. P. Yeste
Department of Materials Science and Metallurgic Engineering, and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, IMEYMAT: Institute of Research on Electron Microscopy and Materials University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, 11510 Cadiz, Spain
O. Bomati-Miguel
Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Sciences, IMEYMAT: Institute of Research on Electron Microscopy and Materials, University of Cádiz, Puerto Real, 11510 Cadiz, Spain
R. Litrán
Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Sciences, IMEYMAT: Institute of Research on Electron Microscopy and Materials, University of Cádiz, Puerto Real, 11510 Cadiz, Spain
F. García-Cózar
Department of Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health, University of Cadiz and Institute of Biomedical Research Cadiz (INIBICA), 11003 Cadiz, Spain
An optimal design of nanoparticles suitable for biomedical applications requires proper functionalization, a key step in the synthesis of such nanoparticles, not only for subsequent crosslinking to biological targets and to avoid cytotoxicity, but also to endow these materials with colloidal stability. In this sense, a reliable characterization of the effectiveness of the functionalization process would, therefore, be crucial for subsequent bioconjugations. In this work, we have analyzed glutathione as a means to functionalize four of the most widely used nanoparticles in biomedicine, one of which is a hybrid gold-magnetic-iron-oxide nanoparticle synthetized by a simple and novel method that we propose in this article. We have analyzed the colloidal characteristics that the glutathione capping provides to the different nanoparticles and, using information on the Z-potential, we have deduced the chemical group used by glutathione to link to the nanoparticle core. We have used electron microscopy for further structural and chemical characterization of the nanoparticles. Finally, we have evaluated nanoparticle cytotoxicity, studying cell viability after incubation with different concentrations of nanoparticles, showing their suitability for biomedical applications.
