A nanoparticle design featuring pH-responsive alkoxyphenyl acylsulfonamide ligands is reported herein. As a result of ligand structure, this nanoparticle is neutral at pH 7.4, becoming positively charged at tumor pH (<6.5). The particle uptake and cytotoxicity increase over this pH range. This pH-controlled uptake and toxicity makes this particle a promising tool for tumor selective therapy.
Keywords: antitumor agents; cellular uptake; gold; nanoparticles; zwitterionic ligands.
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