Anti-glycation activity of gold nanoparticles.

Anti-glycation activity of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) has been reported for the first time. Nonenzymatic glycation of alpha-crystallin leads to formation of cataract, or opaque aggregate of proteins. In this article we report prevention of glycation of alpha-crystallin by conjugation with GNPs. Formation of advanced glycosylic end products is prevented even if a strong glycating agent such as fructose is used. In addition, the nanoconjugation can provide some important information on the structural distribution of this dynamic chaperone protein. Because GNPs are biocompatible, their reported anti-glycation activity may have ophthalmological implications.