Table 2.

Characterization of TNF-based nanodrugs by UV–Vis spectroscopy, DLS, cytotoxicity assays, TEM, and zeta-potential analyses

Nanodrugs a	UV–Vis b			DLS c Radius (nm)	TNF molecule/Np d	TEM e Diameter (nm)	Zeta-potential f (mV)
	λmax (nm)	PW 75% (nm)	650 nm /530 nm
(160 µg:16 µg); pH 6.0
N1/Au/TNF	531 ± 3	59 ± 1.7	0.08 ± 0.02	16.1	1.2 ± 0.2	25.8 ± 1.2	–15.9 ± 7.1
N3/Au/TNF	531 ± 3	59 ± 0.4	0.09 ± 0.01	17.7	1.1 ± 0.2	26.2 ± 1.0	–14.5 ± 6
Iso1/Au/TNF	528 ± 1	59 ± 0.7	0.09 ± 0.01	21.6 ± 3.9	3.4 ± 0.7	25.4 ± 1.1	–15.2 ± 6.7
Iso3/Au/TNF	530 ± 2	59 ± 0.4	0.06 ± 0.01	16.8	2.8 ± 0.4	nd g	nd
Au/TNF	528 ± 2	58 ± 0.1	0.09 ± 0.01	22.1	3.6 ± 0.7	27.5 ± 1.1	–13.1 ± 5.2
(160 µg:32 µg); pH 6.5
N1/Au/TNF	529 ± 2	57.7	0.09	16.4	9.0 ± 2.9	24.9 ± 1.0	–16.7 ± 5.5
Iso1/Au/TNF	526 ± 1	58 ± 0.7	0.09 ± 0.03	23.1	16.3 ± 1.4	27.2 ± 1.0	–15.6 ± 6.2
Uncoated gold	523 ± 2	57 ± 1.2	0.07 ± 0.02	15.5 ± 1.6	0	nd	nd

^aNanodrugs were prepared by mixing peptide-HSA and TNF at the indicated ratios with 1 mL of gold (pH 6.0 or 6.5, as indicated).

^bλ_max, wavelength of peak absorbance; PW 75%, peak-width at 75% of height; mean ± SD.

^cMean ± SD of 2 independent analyses.

^dNumber of bioactive TNF molecules/nanoparticle, as determined by a cytotoxicity assay [25], mean ± SE (5–8 independent experiments).

^eParticle diameter was obtained by measuring the width of about 30 particles using ImageJ software. Mean ± SE.

^fMean ± SD.

^gnd, not determined.