PEGylation density-modulated anticancer drug release on gold nanoparticles in live cells

Glutathione (GSH)-triggered drug releases of the anticancer drug mitoxantrone from a polyethylene glycol (PEG) (molecular weight: 5000) density-modulated drug delivery system up to 0.57 nm−2 of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were examined using bimodal spectroscopic imaging techniques of live-cell fluorescence imaging and surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS). Prolonged delivery amounts and sustained drug releases after introducing a high PEG density on AuNPs was supported by a cell viability test in HeLa cells. A subcutaneous in vivo test also indicated that the SERRS spectra could be observed only for the PEGylated AuNPs after external GSH treatment in consistent with the fluorescence measurements.

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