Abstract:
Nanoparticles (NPs) have been widely used in biomedical applications. The global market of
NPs in biotechnology for drug development and drug delivery is expected to reach $156.8
billion by the year 2028. Among metallic nanoparticles, gold nanostructures with varying
shapes and sizes, stand out as biocompatible materials. Gold nanocages (AuNCs) known for
their hollow interior and porous walls, exhibit the unique phenomenon of surface plasmon
resonance (SPR). This study aimed at comparative synthesis of AuNCs from two different
templates of silver nanocubes (AgNCs), and their characterization for successful synthesis
using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray
Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The resulting
AuNCs, with average size of approximately 63 nm and NIR characteristic peaks at 653 nm,
used as carriers for the entrapment of Doxorubicin (DOX), leading to synthesize Pegylated DOX AuNCs (PEG-DOX-AuNCs). in vitro drug release assay and cytotoxicity analysis
demonstrated their potential for controlled drug delivery to cancer cells and hold promises in
photothermal therapy and as biosensor for disease detection. This research paves the way for
innovative applications of AuNCs in healthcare, showcasing their potential as multifunctional
tools in drug delivery and disease diagnostics.
