Colorimetric assays based on gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are of considerable interest for diagnostics because of their simplicity and low-cost. Nevertheless, a deep understanding of the interaction between the GNPs and the intended molecular target is critical for the development of reliable detection technologies. The present report describes the spontaneous interaction between HPV16 L1 virus-like particles (VLPs) and non-functionalized GNPs (nfGNPs) resulting in the inhibition of nfGNPs salt-induced aggregation and the stabilization of purified VLPs. Ionic-competition experiments suggested that the nature of nfGNPs-VLPs interaction is non-covalent. Adsorption of an RNA aptamer on nfGNPs surface showed an additive aggregation-inhibitory effect. The use of mutant VLPs confirmed that the interaction nfGNPs-VLPs is not mediated by the opposing superficial electrostatic charges, suggesting that non-electrostatic forces participate in the arrangement of nfGNPs on the VLPs surface. Competition experiments using increasing ethanol concentrations on nfGNPs-VLPs complexes suggested hydrophobic interactions as the main stabilizing force. Therefore, the nfGNPs-VLPs interaction described here should facilitate the development of adsorption assays based on nfGNPs for HPV detection and cervical cancer prevention.

基于金纳米颗粒（GNPs）的比色测定法由于其简便易行且成本低廉，因此在诊断方面引起了广泛关注。尽管如此，对GNP与预期分子靶标之间相互作用的深入了解对于开发可靠的检测技术至关重要。本报告介绍了HPV16 L1病毒样颗粒（VLP）与未功能化的GNP（nfGNPs）之间的自发相互作用，导致nfGNPs盐诱导的聚集受到抑制并纯化的VLP稳定。离子竞争实验表明，nfGNPs-VLPs相互作用的性质是非共价的。RNA适体在nfGNPs表面的吸附显示出累加的聚集抑制作用。突变VLP的使用证实了nfGNPs-VLP的相互作用不是由相对的表面静电电荷介导的，这表明非静电力参与了VLP表面上nfGNP的排列。使用nfGNPs-VLPs复合物上增加乙醇浓度的竞争实验表明疏水相互作用是主要的稳定力。因此，此处描述的nfGNPs-VLPs相互作用应有助于开发基于nfGNPs的吸附测定法，用于HPV检测和宫颈癌的预防。