Biologically synthesized gold nanoparticles as a near-infrared-based bioimaging agent

Harnessing the power of thermosensitive liposomes with gold nanoprisms and silica for controlled drug delivery in combined chemotherapy and phototherapy

In recent years, the scientific community has tried to address the treatment of complex diseases such as cancer in a more appropriate and promising way. Regarding this and benefiting from the unique optical properties of gold nanoprisms (AuNPRs), the physicochemical properties of thermosensitive liposomes (TSLs), and the tunable drug encapsulation and release properties of silica nanoparticles (BioSi@NPs), this study has developed two nanoformulations. These nanoformulations have the potential to integrate chemotherapy and photothermal therapy within a single entity. Once their components were synthesized and characterized separately, two strategies were taken in order to develop these multifunctional nanoformulations: (1) covalent binding of AuNPRs to TSLs and (2) co-encapsulation of both components within BioSi@NPs, without modifying the optical and physicochemical properties of AuNPRs and TSLs. Finally, the suitability of both nanoformulations to carry and release hydrophilic drugs when triggered by a 1064 nm NIR laser has been explored by using the fluorescent probe 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (CF) as a hydrophilic drug model. Different laser power and time of exposure were also tested evidencing that hydrophilic drugs were only released from TSLs in the presence of AuNPRs and that the drug release profile was dependent on the type of nanoformulation and irradiation conditions used. In conclusion, these multifunctional nanoformulations exhibit promising potential for controlled drug delivery in combined chemotherapy and phototherapy, with the capability to precisely control the release kinetics based on specific therapeutic needs.

Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy and In Vivo Bioimaging

In the current communication, a simple, environmentally compatible, non-toxic green chemistry process is used for the development of silver nanoparticles (AgZE) by the reaction between silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and the ethanolic leaf extract of Zinnia elegans (ZE). The optimization of AgZE is carried out using a series of experiments. Various physico-chemical techniques are utilized to characterize the nanomaterials. The cell viability assay of AgZE in normal cells (CHO, HEK-293T, EA.hy926, and H9c2) shows their biocompatible nature, which is supported by hemolytic assay using mouse RBC. Interestingly, the nanoparticles exhibited cytotoxicity towards different cancer cell lines (U-87, MCF-7, HeLa, PANC-1 and B16F10). The detailed anticancer activity of AgZE on human glioblastoma cell line (U-87) is exhibited through various in vitro assays. In vivo the AgZE illustrates anticancer activity by inhibiting blood vessel formation through CAM assay. Furthermore, the AgZE nanoparticles when intraperitoneally injected in C57BL6/J mice (with and without tumor) exhibit fluorescence properties in the NIR region (excitation: 710 nm, emission: 820 nm) evidenced by bioimaging studies. The AgZE biodistribution through ICPOES analysis illustrates the presence of silver in different vital organs. Considering all the results, AgZE could be useful as a potential cancer therapeutic agent, as well as an NIR based non-invasive imaging tool in near future.