Efficient pH Dependent Drug Delivery to Target Cancer Cells by Gold Nanoparticles Capped with Carboxymethyl Chitosan

Abstract

Doxorubicin (DOX) was immobilized on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) capped with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) for effective delivery to cancer cells. The carboxylic group of carboxymethyl chitosan interacts with the amino group of the doxorubicin (DOX) forming stable, non-covalent interactions on the surface of AuNPs. The carboxylic group ionizes at acidic pH, thereby releasing the drug effectively at acidic pH suitable to target cancer cells. The DOX loaded gold nanoparticles were effectively absorbed by cervical cancer cells compared to free DOX and their uptake was further increased at acidic conditions induced by nigericin, an ionophore that causes intracellular acidification. These results suggest that DOX loaded AuNPs with pH-triggered drug releasing properties is a novel nanotheraputic approach to overcome drug resistance in cancer.

Microwave-irradiated green synthesis of gold nanoparticles for catalytic and anti-bacterial activity

“…Metal nanoparticles are unique building blocks with sophisticated electromagnetic, chemical and optical properties that differ dramatically from those of bulk metals (Murray 2008;Sardar et al 2009). Among several metal nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles have excellent applications in diagnostics, imaging, sensing, catalytic, electrical, magnetic, anti-bacterial activity, and drug delivery (Cuenca et al 2006;Ulvestad et al 2015;Ojo et al 2016;Deng et al 2014;Reddy et al 2015a;Dahl et al 2007;Prakash et al 2013;Madhusudhan et al 2014;Rodrı´guez-Sa´nchez et al 2000;Lateef et al 2016). …”

Easy on-demand self-assembly of lateral nanodimensional hybrid graphene oxide flakes for near-infrared-induced chemothermal therapy

“…29 The characteristic DOX peaks appeared from 800 to 1900 cm − 1 , representing the anthracene nucleus and molecular bone vibration of DOX at 1795 cm − 1 , accompanied with -NH and -OH stretching vibrations at 2915 and 3325 cm − 1 , respectively. 30,31 These characteristic nGO and DOX peaks were evident in the nGO@DOX flakes, suggesting their quantitative incorporation during self-assembly. The EE and LC of DOX on nGO flakes were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (Supplementary Figure S2D).…”

Development of a Low-Cost Oleophilic Adsorbent Based on Aminated Chitosan - Poly (Butyl Acrylate) Graft Copolymer for Marine Oil Spill Cleanup.

“…Moreover, chitosan has various functional groups such as hydroxyl and amino groups which induced simple chemical alteration and modifications. Physical and chemical modifications of chitosan such as amination, sulfonation, carboxymethylation, coating, and grafting allow formation of different functional derivatives with special hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic characters [25][26][27][28].…”