Acylsulfonamide-Functionalized Zwitterionic Gold Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cellular Uptake at Tumor pH

A nanoparticle design featuring pH-responsive alkoxyphenyl acylsulfonamide ligands is reported herein. As a result of ligand structure, this nanoparticle is neutral at pH7.4, becoming positively charged at tumorpH (<6.5). The particle uptake and cytotoxicity increase over this pHrange. This pH-controlled uptake and toxicity makes this particle a promising tool for tumor selective therapy.