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The predictive bottom-up synthesis of monodisperse and biocompatible gold nanoparticles using seed-mediated growth procedures is limited by a lack of mathematical models relating reaction components to the final nanoparticle diameter. In this study, we used unique quantitative analytical methods at the single-nanoparticle level to identify the mathematical relationship between the moles of precursor ionic gold and the moles of nanoparticle seeds to synthesize monodisperse gold nanoparticles within ∼5% of the target diameter in the ∼10 to 120 nm size range. We investigated two commonly used gold nanoparticle syntheses, i.e., the formation of (i) citrate-coated, and (ii) cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC)-coated gold nanoparticles. Additionally, we developed a surface engineering approach using a physical replacement method that replaces cytotoxic CTAC with biocompatible citrate moieties. We confirmed the successful surface removal of CTAC using several analytical methods and demonstrated biocompatibility with cell viability tests. Our study provides tools and methods by which monodisperse and biocompatible gold nanoparticles can be predictably synthesized for potential downstream biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Serum carcinoembryonic antigen is a tumor marker often found to be elevated in colorectal cancer patients. Elevated carcinoembryonic antigen has been strongly associated with poor prognosis. However, little is known about the patient and tumor characteristics between carcinoembryonic antigen-secreting and non-secreting tumors. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients (N=164,187) in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database diagnosed with colorectal adenocarcinoma from 2010 to 2014. All patients were designated as having either positive/elevated (C1) or negative/normal (C0) pretreatment serum carcinoembryonic antigen level. Results: Of the 164,187 patients, 68,833 (57.0%) had available carcinoembryonic antigen information, and 33,412 (48.5%) had positive/elevated (C1) antigen levels. Median age was 65 years, and 36,464 (53.0%) were male. Patients with C1 cancers were more likely to be female (Odds ratio 1.06), black (Odds ratio 1.62), separated or never married (Odds ratios 1.50 and 1.49, respectively), higher grade (Odds ratios 1.35, 1.64, and 1.72 of moderately, poorly, and undifferentiated cancers, respectively), and of signet ring cell histology (Odds ratio 1.47) compared to males, whites, married participants, well differentiated grade, and adenocarcinoma histology respectively (P

Most nanomedicines require efficient in vivo delivery to elicit meaningful diagnostic and therapeutic effects. However, en route to their intended tissues, systemically administered nanoparticles often encounter delivery barriers. To describe these barriers, the term "nanoparticle blood removal pathways" (NBRP) is proposed, which summarizes the interactions between nanoparticles and the body's various cell‐dependent and cell‐independent blood clearance mechanisms. Nanoparticle design and biological modulation strategies are reviewed to mitigate nanoparticle‐NBRP interactions. As these interactions affect nanoparticle delivery, the preclinical literature from 2011–2021 is studied, and the nanoparticle blood circulation and organ biodistribution data are analyzed. The findings reveal that nanoparticle surface chemistry affects the in vivo behavior more than other nanoparticle design parameters. Combinatory biological‐PEG surface modification improves the blood area under the curve by ≈418%, with a decrease in liver accumulation of up to 47%. A greater understanding of nanoparticle‐NBRP interactions and associated delivery trends will provide new nanoparticle design and biological modulation strategies for safer, more effective, and more efficient nanomedicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]