Gold Nanoparticles Induce Cervical Cancer Cell Apoptosis

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have found many applications in the biomedical field. Carboxyl-polyethylene glycol-thiol (PEG)-coated GNPs prolong their circulation and enhance cellular uptake.

Gold Nanoparticles Induce Cervical Cancer Cell Apoptosis​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​Study: Cellular Uptake and Cytotoxicity of PEGylated Gold Nanoparticles in C33A Cervical Cancer Cells. Image Credit: Komsan Loonprom/Shutterstock.com

In an accepted manuscript recently in the journal Nano Express, the researchers investigated the cytotoxic activity of the PEG-coated GNPs on human cervical cancer C33A cells and compared the results with citrate-capped GNPs.

Properties and Biomedical Applications of GNPs

The optical and thermal properties of GNPs and versatility in synthesizing GNPs of various sizes and shapes offer tremendous benefits in biomedical research. The inertness of GNPs helps attain physicochemical stability. Owing to their small size, formulations involving GNPs attribute a high surface area to volume ratio that improves the loading of drugs or other bioconjugated moieties, thus increasing stability, drug solubility, and pharmacokinetic properties.

At resonance wavelength, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of GNPs allows strong absorbance and scattering of light, which is exploited in applications of surface-enhanced spectroscopies to photothermal heating. Moreover, GNP’s plasmonic photothermal heating is utilized in cancer therapy applications, wherein GNPs with absorption and scattering in the near-infrared (NIR) region are used. Additionally, previous studies on GNPs confirmed the influence of physicochemical characteristics on their cellular uptake.

PEGylated Versus Citrate-capped GNPs

In the present study, the authors employed laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and image flow cytometry (IFC) analysis to evaluate the spatial distribution and cellular uptake of PEGylated GNPs by C33A cell lines. They focused on the effect of PEGylation on GNPs to increase their stability in the cellular medium and aqueous solution.

Dark field scattering images were captured for C33A cell lines after incubating them with PEGylated and citrate-capped GNPs. The viability of C33A cells treated with PEGylated and citrate-capped GNPs was evaluated by employing IFC.

Moreover, the team detected apoptotic cells in their early and late stages by performing Zombie Aqua staining and Alexa Fluor 488 Annexin V protocols. They demonstrated the cytotoxic effects of PEGylated GNPs on C33A cancer cells and compared the obtained results with citrate-capped GNPs. This comparative assessment involved the modification of GNP surface chemistry that impacted their behavior in a cellular environment.

The study allowed the researchers to gain profound knowledge on necrosis and apoptosis at the single-cell level, whose accessibility is restricted otherwise by other methods.

Research Findings

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images confirmed that the diameter of citrate-capped GNPs was 30 nanometers. The hydrodynamic sizes of citrate and PEG-coated GNPs in aqueous media were 43.82 and 78.82 nanometers, respectively, as measured by a high-performance dynamic light scattering (DLS) system.

Herein, the hydrodynamic diameter includes surface-bound molecules and the associated water molecules, which corroborates for enhanced hydrodynamic diameter over the metal NP itself (measured by SEM). Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectra showed optical absorbance peaks for citrate-capped and PEGylated GNPs in aqueous media at 527 and 529 nanometers, respectively.

The redshift of LSPR confirmed the conjugation of PEG polymer to NPs. The PEGylated GNPs exhibited improved stability than citrate-capped GNPs, suggesting the presence of a protective outer coating.

The zeta potential of citrate-capped and PEGylated GNPs were -31.33 millivolts and -43.38 millivolts, respectively. The functionalized PEGylated GNPs showed increased colloidal stability than citrate-capped GNPs due to the outer PEG polymer layer held via strong gold-sulfur bonds. On the other hand, the citrate ions on citrate-capped GNPs were attached via weak electrostatic forces, leading to the aggregation of GNPs. Furthermore, washing PEGylated and citrate-capped GNPs resulted in severe aggregation in the citrate-capped GNP solution than in the PEGylated GNP solution.

PEGylated and citrate-capped GNP’s cellular uptake by C33A cells were evaluated from LSCM imaging. Moreover, the GNP scattering was observed in darkfield scattering images, acquired at a wavelength of 514 nanometers that corresponded to GNP’s plasmon resonance wavelength. The results revealed that the citrate GNPs were densely concentrated and unstable in cellular media compared to PEGylated GNP; this variation in stability is due to the aggregation of NPs. The PEGylated GNPs showed better intracellular stability and spatial distribution than citrate GNPs.

The cell viability and apoptosis of C33A cells exposed to citrate-capped and PEGylated GNPs were examined through IFC using Zombie Aqua and Alexa Fluor 488-labeled Annexin V. The results indicated that PEGylated GNPs induced notable necrosis and apoptosis of C33A cells compared to citrate-capped GNPs. Moreover, PEG-GNPs induced the upregulation of intracellular proteins because of their reaction with the Zombie Aqua, which is an amine-reactive fluorescent dye.

In conclusion, the researchers introduced the impact of citrate-capped and PEGylated GNPs on cervical cancer cells. They demonstrated the cellular uptake of functionalized PEG GNPs followed by their uniform distribution throughout the cells without aggregation. The PEGylated GNPs can also be conjugated with antibodies and other moieties of interest.

Reference

Shaquan David, Devanshi Yogeshkumar Patel, Sandra Cardona, Neil Kirby, and Kathryn M Mayer (2022). Cellular Uptake and Cytotoxicity of PEGylated Gold Nanoparticles in C33A Cervical Cancer Cells. Nano Express. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2632-959X/ac7738

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.

Bhavna Kaveti

Written by

Bhavna Kaveti

Bhavna Kaveti is a science writer based in Hyderabad, India. She has a Masters in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Vellore Institute of Technology, India, and a Ph.D. in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry from Universidad de Guanajuato, Mexico. Her research work involved designing and synthesizing heterocycle-based bioactive molecules, where she had exposure to both multistep and multicomponent synthesis. During her doctoral studies, she worked on synthesizing various linked and fused heterocycle-based peptidomimetic molecules that are anticipated to have a bioactive potential for further functionalization. While working on her thesis and research papers, she explored her passion for scientific writing and communications.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Kaveti, Bhavna. (2022, November 03). Gold Nanoparticles Induce Cervical Cancer Cell Apoptosis. AZoNano. Retrieved on December 09, 2024 from https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=39274.

  • MLA

    Kaveti, Bhavna. "Gold Nanoparticles Induce Cervical Cancer Cell Apoptosis". AZoNano. 09 December 2024. <https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=39274>.

  • Chicago

    Kaveti, Bhavna. "Gold Nanoparticles Induce Cervical Cancer Cell Apoptosis". AZoNano. https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=39274. (accessed December 09, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Kaveti, Bhavna. 2022. Gold Nanoparticles Induce Cervical Cancer Cell Apoptosis. AZoNano, viewed 09 December 2024, https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=39274.

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this news story?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.