Optimization of anti-cancer drugs and a targeting molecule on multifunctional gold nanoparticles. (23rd March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rizk, Nahla; Christoforou, Nicolas; Lee, Sungmun
• Is Part Of: Nanotechnology. Volume 27:Number 18(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-03-23
• Subjects: gold nanoparticles -- breast cancer -- TGF-β -- folic acids -- methotrexate; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology; Publications périodiques; Nanotechnologies; Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/18/185704
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-4484

Abstract

Abstract: Breast cancer is the most common and deadly cancer among women worldwide. Currently, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems are useful for cancer treatment; however, strategic planning is critical in order to enhance the anti-cancer properties and reduce the side effects of cancer therapy. Here, we designed multifunctional gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) conjugated with two anti-cancer drugs, TGF- β 1 antibody and methotrexate, and a cancer-targeting molecule, folic acid. First, optimum size and shape of AuNPs was selected by the highest uptake of AuNPs by MDA-MB-231, a metastatic human breast cancer cell line. It was 100 nm spherical AuNPs (S-AuNPs) that were used for further studies. A fixed amount (900 μ l) of S-AuNP (3.8 × 10 8 particles/ml) was conjugated with folic acid-BSA or methotrexate-BSA. Methotrexate on S-AuNP induced cellular toxicity and the optimum amount of methotrexate-BSA (2.83 mM) was 500 μ l. Uptake of S-AuNPs was enhanced by folate conjugation that binds to folate receptors overexpressed by MDA-MB-231 and the optimum uptake was at 500 μ l of folic acid-BSA (2.83 mM). TGF- β 1 antibody on S-AuNP reduced extracellular TGF- β 1 of cancer cells by 30%. Due to their efficacy and tunable properties, we anticipate numerous clinical applications of multifunctional gold nanospheres in treating breast cancer.