Gold-based nanocrystals for medical treatments and electrochemical manufacturing processes therefor

Inventors

Mortenson, Mark Gordon • Pierce, D. Kyle • Bryce, David A. • Wilcox, Reed N. • Lockett, Anthony • Merzliakov, Mikhail

Assignees

Clene Nanomedicine Inc

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel gold nanocrystals and nanocrystal shape distributions that have surfaces that are substantially free from organic impurities or films. Specifically, the surfaces are “clean” relative to the surfaces of gold nanoparticles made using chemical reduction processes that require organic reductants and/or surfactants to grow gold nanoparticles from gold ions in solution.The invention includes novel electrochemical manufacturing apparatuses and techniques for making the gold-based nanocrystals. The invention further includes pharmaceutical compositions thereof and the use of the gold nanocrystals or suspensions or colloids thereof for the treatment or prevention of diseases or conditions for which gold therapy is already known and more generally for conditions resulting from pathological cellular activation, such as inflammatory (including chronic inflammatory) conditions, autoimmune conditions, hypersensitivity reactions and/or cancerous diseases or conditions. In one embodiment, the condition is mediated by MIF (macrophage migration inhibiting factor).

Core Innovation

The invention provides a suspension or composition that includes water, a processing enhancer, and gold nanocrystals suspended in the water. The processing enhancer is selected from sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, trisodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, monosodium phosphate, and potassium phosphates, and in certain embodiments is sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate dissolved in the suspension medium. The suspension has a pH between about 5 to about 9.5.

The gold nanocrystals have surfaces that do not have organic chemical constituents adhered or attached to the surfaces, a mode particle size of less than about 50 nm, and a concentration of at least 2 ppm by weight per volume. The gold nanocrystals have a zeta potential of about −20 mV or lower at a temperature of about 25° C., where the zeta potential is determined by measuring the electrophoretic mobility of the gold nanocrystals in the suspension. The suspension does not contain chloride ions.

In certain embodiments, the invention further provides shaped gold nanocrystals in the suspension medium. The shaped gold nanocrystals have shapes comprising low Miller index crystal planes selected from {111}, {110}, and {100}, and can comprise triangle and pentagon shapes, with additional embodiments including hexagon and diamond shapes.

Claims Coverage

The provided independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00008, clm-00013, clm-00032, and clm-00036. Across these claims, the inventive coverage centers on a water-based suspension or composition with inorganic processing enhancers and gold nanocrystals having a substantially organic-free surface state, controlled size and concentration, defined pH and zeta potential at about 25° C. determined by electrophoretic mobility, exclusion of chloride ions, and, in some claims, low Miller index crystal-plane-defined shapes.

Collectively, the independent claims require a water-based suspension or composition with inorganic processing enhancers, gold nanocrystals without organic chemical constituents adhered or attached to their surfaces, controlled particle size and concentration, a defined pH, and a zeta potential of about −20 mV or lower at about 25° C. determined by measuring electrophoretic mobility, while excluding chloride ions. Some independent claims further require shaped nanocrystals defined by low Miller index crystal planes and associated polygonal morphologies.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found