Application of Gold Nanoparticles as Radiosensitizer for Metastatic Prostate Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

More than 50% of all prostate cancer (PCa) patients are treated by radiotherapy (RT). Radioresistance and cancer recurrence are two consequences of the therapy and are related to dose heterogeneity and non-selectivity between normal and tumoral cells. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) could be used as potential radiosensitizers to overcome these therapeutic limitations of RT. This study assessed the biological interaction of different morphologies of AuNPs with ionizing radiation (IR) in PCa cells. To achieve that aim, three different amine-pegylated AuNPs were synthesized with distinct sizes and shapes (spherical, AuNPsp-PEG, star, AuNPst-PEG, and rods, AuNPr-PEG) and viability, injury and colony assays were used to analyze their biological effect on PCa cells (PC3, DU145, and LNCaP) when submitted to the accumulative fraction of RT. The combinatory effect of AuNPs with IR decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis compared to cells treated only with IR or untreated cells. Additionally, our results showed an increase in the sensitization enhancement ratio by cells treated with AuNPs and IR, and this effect is cell line dependent. Our findings support that the design of AuNPs modulated their cellular behavior and suggested that AuNPs could improve the RT efficacy in PCa cells.

Radiotherapy Metastatic Prostate Cancer Cell Lines Treated with Gold Nanorods Modulate miRNA Signatures

“…AuNPr-PEG synthesis and functionalization were previously described and characterized by Soares, et al, 2022 [ 22 ]. The human metastatic cell lines from PCa were pre-treated for 24 h with 0.01 mM of AuNPr-PEG and submitted to a clinical radiation plan, daily fractionated ionizing radiation (2.5 Gy dose of ionizing radiation per day) over three days.…”

“…Their ability to selectively accumulate in tumor cells while sparing non-tumor cells improves the therapeutic outcome of radiation therapy. AuNPs, available in several shapes such as spheres, rods, stars, shells, and cages, offer a diverse spectrum of properties that influence their effectiveness as radiosensitizers in cancer therapy [ 22 , 23 ]. The distinct shapes of these nanoparticles play a crucial role in their interaction with radiation and cellular components.…”

“…The distinct shapes of these nanoparticles play a crucial role in their interaction with radiation and cellular components. Our previous study showed that PEGylated gold nanorods (AuNPr-PEG) decreased cellular viability, migration, and survival fraction in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that AuNPr-PEG could be used as a potential radiosensitizer [ 22 ]. AuNPr-PEG had a strong absorption of near-infrared (NIR) light, which can be used to trigger photothermal therapy.…”

Inflammation in Prostate Cancer: Exploring the Promising Role of Phenolic Compounds as an Innovative Therapeutic Approach

“…AuNPs offer diverse potential applications across various domains. Several in vitro studies demonstrated the anticancer potential of AuNPs as an anti-cancer agent as well as their stability, low toxicity, and specificity to PCa cells [6]. The traditional synthesis of AuNPs is highly polluting, wastes high levels of resources and energy, and nanoparticles can be toxic to the human body.…”

“…Dysregulation in the mechanisms governing the production and activation of inflammatory cells contributes to abnormal damage within the prostate tissue. Furthermore, the prostate tumour microenvironment hosts highly heterogeneous and plastic cell populations, which leads to patient resistance to therapies and heightened disease recurrence [6]. PCa cells reduction of PCa mortality following PSA screening.…”