Cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of different sized gold nanoparticles in ovarian cancer cells

Abstract

Nanomedicine has advanced the biomedical field with the availability of multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) systems that can target a disease site enabling drug delivery and helping to monitor the disease. In this paper, we synthesised the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with an average size 18, 40, 60 and 80 nm, and studied the effect of nanoparticles size, concentration and incubation time on ovarian cancer cells namely, OVCAR5, OVCAR8, and SKOV3. The size measured by transmission electron microscopy images was slightly smaller than the hydrodynamic diameter; measured size by ImageJ as 14.55, 38.13, 56.88 and 78.56 nm. The cellular uptake was significantly controlled by the AuNPs size, concentration, and the cell type. The nanoparticles uptake increased with increasing concentration, and 18 and 80 nm AuNPs showed higher uptake ranging from 1.3 to 5.4 μg depending upon the concentration and cell type. The AuNPs were associated with a temporary reduction in metabolic activity, but metabolic activity remained more than 60% for all sample types; NPs significantly affected the cell proliferation activity in first 12 h. The increase in nanoparticle size and concentration induced the production of reactive oxygen species in 24 h.

Cellular Uptake of Gold Nanoparticles and Their Movement in 3D Multicellular Tumor Spheroids: Effect of Molecular Weight and Grafting Density of Poly(2‐hydroxyl ethyl acrylate)

“…A systematic study on spherical GNP ranging from 14–74 nm revealed that nanoparticles with sizes of around 50 nm showed the highest uptake by HeLa cells . However, other studies found that the size dependency for the cellular uptake is less evident or it follows a different pattern with smaller (18 nm) or larger (80 nm) GNP showing enhanced uptake . The opinion is also divided when it comes to comparing spherical and rod‐shaped GNP.…”

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles with <em>Solanum xanthocarpum</em> extract and their in vitro anticancer potential on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

“…Similarly, AuNPs were found to be cytotoxic to ovarian cancer cells in vitro (OVCAR5, OVCAR8, SKOV3). 35 Another study also confirmed that AuNPs reduced the viability of HeLa cells with IC 50 value obtained at 100 µg/mL concentration, while for bone marrow stem cells the IC 50 value was 300 µg/mL. 36 Generation of ROS is a critical event in causing aging or senescence and apoptosis.…”

Spectral Photon-Counting Molecular Imaging for Quantification of Monoclonal Antibody-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles Targeted to Lymphoma and Breast Cancer: AnIn VitroStudy

“…Nanoparticles provide unique and desirable physiochemical properties, ideal for CT imaging. A study by Kumar et al suggested that size and cell type influenced the uptake of “as prepared” AuNPs by ovarian cancer cells [53]. Optimisation of the cellular uptake of AuNPs is required for different cell types to achieve enough payload.…”