Biocompatible d-penicillamine conjugated Au nanoparticles: targeting intracellular free copper ions for detoxificationThe manuscript was written through contributions of all authors. All authors have given approval to the final version of the manuscript. The authors declare no competing financial interest.Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Fourier transform infrared spectra, energy dispersive X-ray spectra and thermogravimetric (TGA) curves of Au@d-PEN NPs, and fluorescence sp

High thiophillicicity of the Au-nanoparticle (Au NP) surface leads to covalent attachment of d -penicillamine molecules to Au NPs to form biocompatible d -penicillamine conjugated Au NPs. The latter are highly water-dispersible, exhibit no cytotoxicity, and can readily penetrate the cell membrane to target intracellular free copper ions for selective copper detoxification in the presence of the other divalent essential metal ions including Zn( ii ), Fe( ii ), Mn( ii ), Ca( ii ), and Mg( ii ), thus opening up a new avenue for improving the efficacy and pharmacokinetics of d -penicillamine, an important clinical drug currently used to treat the copper overload-related diseases and disorders. High thiophillicicity of the Au-nanoparticle (Au NP) surface leads to covalent attachment of d -penicillamine molecules to Au NPs to form biocompatible d -penicillamine conjugated Au NPs.