Inhibiting EGFR clustering and cell proliferation with gold nanoparticles.

Gold nanoparticles are functionalized with epidermal growth factor (EGF) molecules and incubated with HeLa cells. These new complexes mechanically interfere with the activation of EGF receptors in a length-dependent manner. Protein-functionalized gold nanoparticles hold great potential for unveiling the fundamental characteristics of cell receptors and for future pharmacological studies on receptor targeting.