Preparation and characterization of Ganciclovir-loaded Glutathione-modified gold nanoparticles

Abstract

This article reports that ganciclovir-loaded gold nanoparticles were developed via glutathione surface modification. Citrate-reduced gold nanoparticles were prepared first from chloroauric acid. Further the surface of gold nanoparticles was modified with glutathione. Then ganciclovir was loaded onto the glutathione-modified gold nanoparticles through the reaction between carboxyl group of glutathione and amino group of ganciclovir. Gold nanoparticles were characterized by photon correlation spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. Drug loading of 87.27±2.52% was observed for ganciclovir-loaded gold nanoparticles. The particle size distribution of gold nanoparticles ranged from 26.3 to 31 nm. Thus ganciclovir-loaded gold nanoparticles were successfully prepared, which might further improve the oral bioavailability of ganciclovir.