Study of THP-1 Macrophage Viability after Sonodynamic Therapy Using Methyl Ester of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Gold Nanoparticles.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is emerging as new atherosclerosis treatment. The use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as the vehicle for a sensitizer delivery improves reactive oxygen species formation. In this study, methyl ester of aminolevulinic acid (MALA) gold nanoparticles (MALA:AuNPs) functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) were synthesized by photoreduction and characterized by ultraviolet/visible optical absorption, zeta potential and electron microscopy.