Studying loading/release of doxepin on gold nanoparticles by the control of a green light

ABSTRACT

A new method is disclosed for the loading and release of doxepin by using gold nanoparticles. It is suggested that loading of doxepin occurs through two Van der Waals interactions between the drug molecules and Au nanoparticles as well as formation of an electronic bridge between them. This interaction increases the mean free-path of the free electrons on gold nanoparticles and makes an external plasmon resonance peak at the UV-Vis spectrum. An emitting green light can control the release process, in which its wavelength is close to the wavelength of surface plasmon resonance of Au NPs. Finally, the performed cellular cytoxicity of Au@doxepin NPs (loaded doxepin onto Au nanoparticles) against PC3 prostate cancer cells showed that this nanoparticle has an acceptable cytotoxicity in the concentration range of 5–40 µg/mL.

KEYWORDS:

• doxepin
• green light
• LED
• gold nanoparticles
• surface plasmon resonance
• drug delivery
• loading
• release

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).