Short- and long-term distribution and toxicity of gold nanoparticles in the rat after a single-dose intravenous administration

We have demonstrated that regardless of the surface coating, the distribution pattern of citrate- and pentapeptide CALNN-coated AuNPs was very similar at either short- (30 min) or long-term (28 days) after a single-dose intravenous administration in the rat, and the liver was the preferential organ for accumulation. Pentapeptide coating failed to protect against rapid removal of the AuNPs from the bloodstream and signs of mild delayed toxicity were observed, probably related to a lower tendency for elimination of these NPs. Further improvements in the design of capping peptides need to be done to increase applicability of peptide-coated AuNPs in biomedicine.86