Aptamer-functionalized chitosan-coated gold nanoparticle complex as a suitable targeted drug carrier for improved breast cancer treatment

Abstract

In the following research, we specifically assessed the feasibility of a novel AS-1411-chitosan (CS)-gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) delivery system to carry methotrexate (MTX) into the cancer cells. The designed system had a spherical shape with average size of 62 ± 2.4 nm, the zeta potential of −32.1 ± 1.4 mV, and released MTX in a controlled pH- and time-dependent manner. CS-AuNPs could successfully penetrate the breast cancer cells and release the therapeutic drug, and ultimately, be accumulated by the nucleolin-AS1411 targeting mechanism within the in vivo environment. The anticancer activity of MTX was attributed to the induction of mitochondria membrane potential loss and nuclear fragmentation, which leads to apoptotic death. Moreover, the cellular internalization confirmed the high potential in the elimination of cancer cells without notable cytotoxicity on non-target cells. Therefore, it was concluded that the AS1411-CS-AuNPs with considerable in vitro and in vivo results could be utilized as a favorable system for breast cancer treatment.

The Efficacy of Zinc Phthalocyanine Nanoconjugate on Melanoma Cells Grown as Three-Dimensional Multicellular Tumour Spheroids

“…Through further analysis, it was observed that the release of ZnPcS 4 from the AuNPs was faster at pH 5.4 compared to pH 7.4, suggesting that AuNPs could release PSs in a well-coordinated manner upon exposure to an acidic endo/lysosomal pH and intracellular reductive conditions in tumour cells. Similar observations were reported by Shahidi et al, who highlighted that AuNPs could effectively penetrate cancer cells and control the release of therapeutic drugs, thereby preventing unwanted drug leakage before reaching targeted tumour sites [ 38 ].…”

The phototoxic effect of a gold-antibody-based nanocarrier of phthalocyanine on melanoma monolayers and tumour spheroids

“…This is in agreement with reports by Shahidi et al, who stated that AuNPs could improve the bioavailability and controlled release of drugs, thereby mitigating premature leakage of drugs in nontargeted regions. 33 The ZnPcS 4 dose optimization studies yielded an IC 50 concentration of 0.85 mM in monolayers and 12.73 mM in spheroids. Studies by Gunay et al, 2020 showed a 20-fold increase in the drug resistance of spheroids to PDT versus monolayers.…”

Natural Biopolymers as Smart Coating Materials of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery

“…Chitosan coatings are also advantageous for the intracellular distribution of drugs by promoting the endosomal escape of encapsulated therapeutic cargo due to the proton sponge action of the cationic biopolymer [ 139 ]. Moreover, the presence of NH 2 groups together with OH groups ensures the high chemical reactivity of chitosan which can be easily modified with different functional molecules, such as stealth [ 169 , 170 , 171 ] or targeting [ 140 , 172 , 173 ] moieties.…”