Biocompatibility, uptake and anti-cancer activity of doxorubicin loaded gold nanoparticles in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line

Abstract

dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, iron oxide nanoparticles, gold nanorods and gold nanoparticles [5-11].Of these, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) hold immense promise as a carrier due to its large surface to volume ratio, inertness, easy functionalization, low toxicity and ample cell penetration properties [12, 13]. Conjugations of Dox to AuNPs through covalent linkages and surface adsorption have been attempted [14]. In these methods, AuNPs prepared using chemicals such as sodium borohydride or citrate have been utilized which has resulted in non-compatibility towards normal cells. For overcoming this problem, AuNPs synthesized using plant extracts and pure phytochemicals are suggested as alternatives. In addition, delivery of Dox using these AuNPs to cancer cells is also being investigated in recent times. For example, AuNPs prepared using Helminthosporum solani have been used for Dox delivery to cervical cancer cells (HeLa) [15].Azadirachta indica extract capped AuNPs have also been reported to deliver Dox to embryonic kidney cells (HEK239) [16]. Since k-AuNPs have been shown to elicit toxicity to MCF-7 cells and preliminary results obtained in our laboratory have indicated that resveratrol (a stillbenoid) conjugated to AuNPs (r-AuNPs)is also able to bring about apoptosis of MCF-7 cells, it is possible that loading of Dox to k-AuNPs and r-AuNPs may enhance the cytotoxicity [17]. Hence, Dox conjugated k-AuNPs and r-AuNPs have been synthesized and characterized and their actions on MCF-7 cells have been investigated.

Enhanced Internalization of Nanoparticles Following Ionizing Radiation Leads to Mitotic Catastrophe in MG-63 Human Osteosarcoma Cells

“…It is well known that ionizing radiation causes a cell cycle arrest, determining cells to have a non-reproductive state [ 32 ]. On the other hand, the internalized agent itself can cause an effect, leading to a G 2 /M arrest and, thus, to its enhanced uptake by the cell, with some examples of such events being the formation of reactive oxygen species [ 33 ] or cell cycle interfering drug release (e.g., doxorubicin [ 34 ], docetaxel [ 35 ]). In our case, during the first 24 h of exposure, more than 60% of DOX is released from the nanoparticles.…”