Gold Nanoparticles Contact with Cancer Cell: A Brief Update

Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jul 12;23(14):7683. doi: 10.3390/ijms23147683.

Abstract

The fine-tuning of the physicochemical properties of gold nanoparticles has facilitated the rapid development of multifunctional gold-based nanomaterials with diagnostic, therapeutic, and therapeutic applications. Work on gold nanoparticles is increasingly focusing on their cancer application. This review provides a summary of the main biological effects exerted by gold nanoparticles on cancer cells and highlights some critical factors involved in the interaction process (protein corona, tumor microenvironment, surface functionalization). The review also contains a brief discussion of the application of gold nanoparticles in target discovery.

Keywords: cancer cells; gold nanoparticles; nanoproteomics; protein corona; targeting molecules; tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Gold / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / therapeutic use
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Nanostructures*
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Protein Corona* / chemistry
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Protein Corona
  • Gold

Grants and funding

This research was funded by Pavia University’s Crowdfunding on breast tumor studies (2015 and 2021, https://universitiamo.eu/en/campaigns/tumore-seno-diagnosi-cura-nanoparticelle-doro, accessed on 28 May 2022) and a grant of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Re-search (MIUR) to the Department of Molecular Medicine of the University of Pavia under the initiative “Dipartimenti di Eccellenza (2018–2022)”.