Thesis

Study on gold nanoparticles for biological applications

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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2013
Thesis identifier
  • T13536
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Abstract
  • Gold nanoparticles have attracted much attention in the field of biological research, especially in biological imaging and sensing due to their unique physical properties. Fluorescence is a highly-sensitive, non-invasive biological study method and has been widely used in a variety of research topics. The aim of this thesis is to study the unique optical properties of gold nanoparticles and demonstrate their application in biological imaging and sensing through fluorescence microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. An introduction of gold nanoparticles and fluorescence techniques used in this project is given in Chapter 1. In Chapter 2, the synthesis method of gold nanoparticles, dependence of optical properties on particle size and shape, the unique spectroscopic characterization and microscopic application of gold nanorods are discussed. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) based on two-photon luminescence lifetime from gold nanorods in cell culture, and the advantages of this method in biological imaging are demonstrated in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, the energy transfer between a DNA dye, 4'-6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), and different types of gold nanoparticles in solution is demonstrated using FLIM. Biological imaging application based on energy transfer between gold particles and DAPI in cell culture is discussed as well in this chapter. A study on energy transfer process concerning different excitation conditions is reviewed in Chapter 5. Furthermore, application of fluorescence resonant energy transfer (FRET) based FLIM method in the research of intracellular pathway of gold nanoparticles in cells is demonstrated. Chapter 6 presents a systematic study on the cytotoxicity of gold nanorods in cell culture using MTT (3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) method. The effects of particle shape, surface conditions, dosage, incubation time on the cytotoxicity and the mechanism of cytotoxicity are discussed. In Chapter 7, a brief summary and outlook to future work are presented.
Resource Type
DOI
Date Created
  • 2013
Former identifier
  • 996827

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