One-Step Synthesis of Peptide-Gold Nanoclusters with Tunable Fluorescence and Enhanced Gene Delivery Efficiency

In this study, peptide-gold nanoclusters with tunable fluorescence were prepared by a simple one-pot method, which were used for gene localization and delivery in vivo to achieve efficient intracellular colocalization, uptake, and transfection. The efficiency of pDNA transfection was up to 70.6%, and there was no obvious cytotoxicity. This study proves that the simple composition and bio-friendly peptide-gold nanoclusters are promising gene delivery carriers and can provide a powerful theoretical and experimental basis for the application of peptide-metal nanocomplexes in gene delivery and other biomedicine fields.

Automated summary

Peptide-gold nanoclusters with tunable fluorescence were successfully prepared and used for gene localization and delivery in this study. The results demonstrated the efficient intracellular colocalization, uptake, and transfection of these carriers, with no obvious cytotoxicity. Therefore, peptide-gold nanoclusters are considered promising gene delivery carriers.