Metformin encapsulated gold nanoparticles (MTF-GNPs): A promising antiglycation agent

Cell Biochem Funct. 2022 Oct;40(7):729-741. doi: 10.1002/cbf.3738. Epub 2022 Sep 13.

Abstract

The generation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) through nonenzymatic protein glycation contributes to the pathogenesis of long-lived diabetic problems. Metformin (MTF) is the very first drug having antihyperglycemic effects on type II diabetes mellitus which also possess interaction with dicarbonyl compounds and blocks the formation of AGEs. In the current study, MTF is bioconjugated with glycation-derived synthesized gold nanoparticles (GNPs) of significant size. Additionally, using various biophysical and biochemical approaches, we investigated the antiglycating capacity MTF-GNPs in contrast to MTF against d-ribose-derived glycation of bovine serum albumin. Our key findings via utilizing various assays demonstrated that MTF-GNPs were able to inhibit AGEs development by reducing hyperchromicity, early glycation products, carbonyl content, hydxoxymethylfurfural content, production of fluorescent AGEs, normalizing the loss of secondary structure (i.e., α-helix and β-sheets) of proteins, elevating the levels of free lysine and free arginine more efficiently compared to pure MTF. Based on these results, we concluded that MTF-GNPs possess a considerable antiglycation property and may be developed as an outstanding anti-AGEs treatment drug. Further in vivo and clinical research are necessary to determine the therapeutic effects of MTF-GNPs against AGE-related and metabolic disorders.

Keywords: Metformin; fluorescence; hydroxy methyl furfural; nitrobluetetrazolium; transmission electron microscopy.

MeSH terms

  • Arginine
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / drug therapy
  • Glycation End Products, Advanced / metabolism
  • Gold
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Lysine / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles*
  • Metformin* / pharmacology
  • Ribose / chemistry
  • Ribose / metabolism
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / chemistry
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / metabolism

Substances

  • Glycation End Products, Advanced
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine
  • Ribose
  • Gold
  • Metformin
  • Arginine
  • Lysine