Gold Nanoparticle and Gold Nanoshell Analysis with a NanoDrop One Microvolume UV-Vis Spectrophotometer

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) play a significant role in advancing a wide array of biomedical applications, including molecular diagnostics, targeted drug delivery, nucleic acid delivery, and photothermal therapies. Conjugated nanoparticles (NPs), such as nanoshells (NS), can improve stability, cellular uptake, and blood circulation time, thus resulting in increased effectiveness.

One of most important characteristics of gold nanoshells is their strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR). This allows them to be analyzed via UV-Vis spectroscopy. Traditionally, UV-Vis spectrophotometers are used to measure the optical density of the NS in suspension, which allows for the calculation of the NS concentration. Accurate determination of NS concentration is crucial to proper utilization of NS in different applications.

Recent work has shown that the Thermo Scientific NanoDrop One Microvolume UV-Vis Spectrophotometer can be used to accurately measure highly concentrated gold nanoparticle and nanoshell samples without dilution. The technique can serve as a microvolume alternative to traditional cuvette-based spectrophotometers for qualitatively confirming RNA and PEG loading on gold-based NPs via plasmon resonance shifts.

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