Fabrication and characterization of doxorubicin functionalized PSS coated gold nanorod

Abstract

Gold nanorods have received immense importance due to their potential for strong optical absorption in the visible and near infrared regions. A new approach was employed to develop a stable probe based on an anionic polyelectrolyte, poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) PSS, a novel, non-cytotoxic antimicrobial contraceptive agent, functionalized gold nanorods, followed by the attachment of an anti-cancer drug, doxorubicin. Doxorubicin has proved to be one of the potent anticancer drugs, establishing wide applicability in various cancer therapies. Gold nanorods have been renowned for their possible application in hyperthermia of the cancer cells. In this connection, doxorubicin functionalized gold nanorods have been prepared and characterized utilizing ultraviolet–visible–near infrared (UV–Vis–NIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and zeta potential measurements.