Nanocarriers Based on Gold Nanoparticles for Epigallocatechin Gallate Delivery in Cancer Cells

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Lídia Cunha (Author) Other; Sílvia Castro Coelho (Author) FEUP; Maria do Carmo Pereira (Author) FEUP; Manuel A. N. Coelho (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Pharmaceutics

Vol. 14 No. 3

Pages: 1-12

ISSN: 1999-4923

Publisher: MDPI

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00W-5S6

DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14030491

Abstract (EN): Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are inorganic and biocompatible nanovehicles capable of conjugating biomolecules to enhance their efficacy in cancer treatment. The high and reactive surface area provides good advantages for conjugating active compounds. Two approaches were developed in this work to improve the Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) antioxidant efficacy. AuNPs were synthesized by reducing gold salt with chitosan. One other nanosystem was developed by functionalizing AuNPs with cysteamine using the Turkevitch method. The physico-chemical characterization of EGCG conjugated in the two nanosystems-based gold nanoparticles was achieved. The in vitro toxic effect induced by the nanoconjugates was evaluated in pancreatic cancer cells, showing that encapsulated EGCG keeps its antioxidant activity and decreasing the BxPC3 cell growth. A significant cell growth inhibition was observed in 50% with EGCG concentrations in the range of 2.2 and 3.7 mu M in EGCG-ChAuNPs and EGCG-Cyst-AuNPs nanoconjugates, respectively. The EGCG alone had to be present at 23 mu M to induce the same cytotoxicity response. Caspase-3 activity assay demonstrated that the conjugation of EGCG induces an enhancement of BxPC3 apoptosis compared with EGCG alone. In conclusion, AuNPs complexes can be used as delivery carriers to increase EGCG antioxidant activity in cancer tissues.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12