Intratumoral generation of photothermal gold nanoparticles through a vectorized biomineralization of ionic gold

Nat Commun. 2020 Sep 10;11(1):4530. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17595-6.

Abstract

Various cancer cells have been demonstrated to have the capacity to form plasmonic gold nanoparticles when chloroauric acid is introduced to their cellular microenvironment. But their biomedical applications are limited, particularly considering the millimolar concentrations and longer incubation period of ionic gold. Here, we describe a simplistic method of intracellular biomineralization to produce plasmonic gold nanoparticles at micromolar concentrations within 30 min of application utilizing polyethylene glycol as delivery vector for ionic gold. We have characterized this process for intracellular gold nanoparticle formation, which progressively accumulates proteins as the ionic gold clusters migrate to the nucleus. This nano-vectorized application of ionic gold emphasizes its potential biomedical opportunities while reducing the quantity of ionic gold and required incubation time. To demonstrate its biomedical potential, we further induce in-situ biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles within MCF7 tumor mouse xenografts which is followed by its photothermal remediation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomineralization / radiation effects
  • Chlorides / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Gold / radiation effects
  • Gold Compounds / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Hyperthermia, Induced / methods
  • Ions
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / radiation effects
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Photochemotherapy / methods
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Theranostic Nanomedicine / methods*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Chlorides
  • Drug Carriers
  • Gold Compounds
  • Ions
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Gold
  • gold tetrachloride, acid