Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with 2-Thiouracil for Antiproliferative and Photothermal Therapies in Breast Cancer Cells
Nanoparticles have been used to transport drugs to various body parts to treat cancer. Our interest is in gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) since they have the capacity to absorb light and convert it to heat, inducing cellular damage. This property is known as photothermal therapy (PTT) and has been studie...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/11/4453 |
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| author | Génesis Lorenzana-Vázquez Ioana Pavel Enrique Meléndez |
| author_facet | Génesis Lorenzana-Vázquez Ioana Pavel Enrique Meléndez |
| author_sort | Génesis Lorenzana-Vázquez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nanoparticles have been used to transport drugs to various body parts to treat cancer. Our interest is in gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) since they have the capacity to absorb light and convert it to heat, inducing cellular damage. This property is known as photothermal therapy (PTT) and has been studied in cancer treatment. In the present study, biocompatible citrate-reduced AuNPs were functionalized with a biologically active compound, 2-thiouracil (2-TU), of potential anticancer activity. Both the unfunctionalized (AuNPs) and functionalized (2-TU-AuNPs) were purified and characterized by UV–Vis absorption spectrophotometry, Zeta potential, and Transmission Electron Microscopy. Results showed monodispersed, spherical AuNPs with a mean core diameter of 20 ± 2 nm, a surface charge of −38 ± 5 mV, and a localized surface plasmon resonance peak at 520 nm. As a result of functionalization, the mean core diameter of 2-TU-AuNPs increased to 24 ± 4 nm, and the surface charge increased to −14 ± 1 mV. The functionalization of AuNPs and the load efficiency were further established through Raman spectroscopy and UV–Vis absorption spectrophotometry. The antiproliferative activities of AuNPs, 2-TU and 2-TU-AuNPs were examined by a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. It was established that AuNPs significantly enhanced the antiproliferative activity of 2-TU. Furthermore, the irradiation of the samples with visible light at 520 nm decreased the half-maximal inhibitory concentration by a factor of 2. Thus, the 2-TU drug concentration and its side effect during treatments could be significantly reduced by synergistically exploiting the antiproliferative activity of 2-TU loaded onto AuNPs and the PTT effect of AuNPs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:01:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-69a970dbfbbb473bba3de80695deacf7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:01:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-69a970dbfbbb473bba3de80695deacf72023-11-18T08:16:50ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492023-05-012811445310.3390/molecules28114453Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with 2-Thiouracil for Antiproliferative and Photothermal Therapies in Breast Cancer CellsGénesis Lorenzana-Vázquez0Ioana Pavel1Enrique Meléndez2Department of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, Mayaguez, PR 00681, USADepartment of Physical and Environmental Sciences, Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USADepartment of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, Mayaguez, PR 00681, USANanoparticles have been used to transport drugs to various body parts to treat cancer. Our interest is in gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) since they have the capacity to absorb light and convert it to heat, inducing cellular damage. This property is known as photothermal therapy (PTT) and has been studied in cancer treatment. In the present study, biocompatible citrate-reduced AuNPs were functionalized with a biologically active compound, 2-thiouracil (2-TU), of potential anticancer activity. Both the unfunctionalized (AuNPs) and functionalized (2-TU-AuNPs) were purified and characterized by UV–Vis absorption spectrophotometry, Zeta potential, and Transmission Electron Microscopy. Results showed monodispersed, spherical AuNPs with a mean core diameter of 20 ± 2 nm, a surface charge of −38 ± 5 mV, and a localized surface plasmon resonance peak at 520 nm. As a result of functionalization, the mean core diameter of 2-TU-AuNPs increased to 24 ± 4 nm, and the surface charge increased to −14 ± 1 mV. The functionalization of AuNPs and the load efficiency were further established through Raman spectroscopy and UV–Vis absorption spectrophotometry. The antiproliferative activities of AuNPs, 2-TU and 2-TU-AuNPs were examined by a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. It was established that AuNPs significantly enhanced the antiproliferative activity of 2-TU. Furthermore, the irradiation of the samples with visible light at 520 nm decreased the half-maximal inhibitory concentration by a factor of 2. Thus, the 2-TU drug concentration and its side effect during treatments could be significantly reduced by synergistically exploiting the antiproliferative activity of 2-TU loaded onto AuNPs and the PTT effect of AuNPs.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/11/4453gold nanoparticlesAuNPsMDA-MB-2312-TU-AuNPsTransmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) |
| spellingShingle | Génesis Lorenzana-Vázquez Ioana Pavel Enrique Meléndez Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with 2-Thiouracil for Antiproliferative and Photothermal Therapies in Breast Cancer Cells Molecules gold nanoparticles AuNPs MDA-MB-231 2-TU-AuNPs Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) |
| title | Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with 2-Thiouracil for Antiproliferative and Photothermal Therapies in Breast Cancer Cells |
| title_full | Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with 2-Thiouracil for Antiproliferative and Photothermal Therapies in Breast Cancer Cells |
| title_fullStr | Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with 2-Thiouracil for Antiproliferative and Photothermal Therapies in Breast Cancer Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with 2-Thiouracil for Antiproliferative and Photothermal Therapies in Breast Cancer Cells |
| title_short | Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with 2-Thiouracil for Antiproliferative and Photothermal Therapies in Breast Cancer Cells |
| title_sort | gold nanoparticles functionalized with 2 thiouracil for antiproliferative and photothermal therapies in breast cancer cells |
| topic | gold nanoparticles AuNPs MDA-MB-231 2-TU-AuNPs Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/11/4453 |
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