β‑Cyclodextrin-Bearing Gold Glyconanoparticles for the Development of Site Specific Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract

Three novel gold nanoparticles containing multiple long, flexible linkers decorated with lactose, β-cyclodextrin and both simultaneously have been prepared. The interaction of such nanoparticles with β-D-galactose-recognizing lectins peanut agglutinin (PNA) and human galectin-3 (Gal-3) was demonstrated by UV-Vis studies. Gal-3 is well-known to be overexpressed in several human tumors and can act as biorecognizable target. This technique also allowed us to estimate their loading capability toward the anticancer drug methotrexate (MTX). Both results make these glyconanoparticles potential site-specific delivery systems for anticancer drugs.