Gold and Silver nanoparticles as carriers of Cu(I/II) and Ga(III) coordination compounds for applications in biomedicine: a XAS investigatio

The objective of this experiment is the investigation of the local coordination around the active metal ions of hydrophilic ions and electronic structure of NPs and AgNPs functionalized with Cu(I), Cu(II) and Ga(III)-complexes. Special attention will be devoted to elucidate the complex/nanoparticle interface and coordination compound coordination geometry, in comparison with the pristine complex not interacting with the nanoparticle, as these aspects govern the efficiency of drug loading, nanosystem stability, and potential release mechanisms. This proposal aims to generate critical knowledge toward the design of nanocarriers capable of delivering hydrophobic drugs on-demand, overcoming the solubility limitations of many therapeutic agents. The understanding of how coordination compounds interact with metal nanoparticles at the molecular level is a mandatory step to optimize drug loading efficiency, enhance bioavailability, and achieve dose reduction.