Gold nanoparticles cross cell-subcellular barriers for biological regulation

Biological barriers are crucial to homeostasis, but they still remain a major cause of the insufficient therapeutic outcomes of drugs. Numerous nanocarriers have been developed currently to escort drugs cross the blood barrier and blood-tissue barriers. However, the cellular or subcellular barriers confronted by nanomedicines still need to be breached. Therefore, elucidating the mechanism by which nanoparticles cross the subcellular barrier can pave the way for the development of nanocarriers. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are usually used as model nanoparticles to explore the biological processes of nanoparticles. Here, we summarize the recent advances that use GNPs to clarify the trans-barrier mechanism of nanomedicines at the cellular or subcellular level. Moreover, the biological fate of cells regulated by GNPs at the subcellular level is also reviewed. Major biological barriers for nanomedicines to cross to reach target sites are the blood barrier, blood-tissue barrier, transmembrane barrier and cell-cellular barrier.