%0 Journal Article
%T Gold Nanobeacons for Tracking Gene Silencing in Zebrafish
%A Alexandra R. Fernandes
%A Joana Silva
%A Lara Carvalho
%A Leonor Sa¨²de
%A Milton Cordeiro
%A Pedro V. Baptista
%J Archive of "Nanomaterials".
%D 2017
%R 10.3390/nano7010010
%X The use of gold nanoparticles for effective gene silencing has demonstrated its potential as a tool for gene expression experiments and for the treatment of several diseases. Here, we used a gold nanobeacon designed to specifically silence the enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) mRNA in embryos of a fli-EGFP transgenic zebrafish line, while simultaneously allowing the tracking and localization of the silencing events via the beacon¡¯s emission. Fluorescence imaging measurements demonstrated a decrease of the EGFP emission with a concomitant increase in the fluorescence of the Au-nanobeacon. Furthermore, microinjection of the Au-nanobeacon led to a negligible difference in mortality and malformations in comparison to the free oligonucleotide, indicating that this system is a biocompatible platform for the administration of gene silencing moieties. Together, these data illustrate the potential of Au-nanobeacons as tools for in vivo zebrafish gene modulation with low toxicity which may be used towards any gene of interest
%K gold nanobeacons
%K gold nanoparticles
%K gene silencing
%K zebrafish
%K fli-EGFP
%U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5295200/