Gold nanorods - copper(I) complexes conjugates as anticancer drug-delivery system

Gold nanorods (AuNRs) are successfully employed in drug delivery, biosensors, and biotechnologies [1,2]. Their wide success is due to their unique chemical properties, biocompatibility, easy, cheap and versatile synthesis. In this framework, AuNRs were synthetized with the aim to obtain strongly hydrophilic nanomaterials, suitable for drug delivery. AuNRs were investigated by UV-Vis-NIR, FT-IR and HR-XPS spectrocopies, confirming nanosize, with typical surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands at 550 nm and 900 nm, and surface functionalization by ascorbic acid (AA) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). Therefore, AuNRs were used as drug delivery system for copper (I)-based anti-tumor complex namely [Cu(PTA)4]+[BF4]- (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphadamantane). The loading procedures and efficiency of Cu(I) complexes on the AuNRs surface were optimized in order to control their bioavailability and release.