Layer-by-layer assembled gold nanoparticles for the delivery of nucleic acids.

The delivery of nucleic acids to mammalian cells requires a potent particulate carrier system. The physicochemical properties of the used particles, such as size and surface charge, strongly influence the cellular uptake and thereby the extent of the subsequent biological effect. However the knowledge of this process is still fragmentary because heterogeneous particle collectives are applied. Therefore we present a strategy to synthesize carriers with a highly specific appearance on the basis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and the Layer-by-Layer (LbL) technique. The LbL method is based on the alternate deposition of oppositely charged (bio-)polymers, in our case poly(ethylenimine) and nucleic acids. The size and surface charge of those particles can be easily modified and accordingly systematic studies on cellular uptake are accessible.