ABO Blood sugar antigen-functionalized gold nanoparticles: innovative nanotools for biomedical applications

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are very promising tools for medical applications since their synthesis and functionalization are very versatile. However, biodistribution, short circulation times, and rapid clearance are challenging issues. When placed in biological fluids, AuNPs are coated by proteins, forming the so-called protein corona (PC), which impairs the biodistribution and reduces the circulation time1. Surface modification with endogenous carbohydrates, recognized by the immune system as “self”, can improve the biocompatibility and prolong the circulation time, enabling surface-functionalized AuNPs to reach their target organ and release their payload. Among these, ABO blood group antigens are especially appealing for designing “stealth” NPs due to their biological relevance. Recent interest in ABO antigen-based therapies, particularly in cancer treatment, has highlighted their biomedical value. In this work, we used a photo-microfluidic method2 to synthesize four types of ultra-small AuNPs functionalized with ABO antigen derivatives (ABO-AuNPs)3, each representing a human blood group. These nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and NMR spectroscopy. The resulting ABO-AuNPs show strong potential as multifunctional platforms for applications such as targeted drug delivery, imaging, diagnostics, and future integration into precision medicine.