AuNP Anticancer Applications

As the prevalence of cancer continues to rise, there is an increasing need to develop targeted treatments that minimize the side effects associated with conventional therapies. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) offer a promising avenue for cancer treatment due to their highly adaptable surface coatings, which can be tailored to selectively target specific cell types.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of various AuNP surface coatings in anticancer applications. The nanoparticles were synthesized in a boiling aqueous system, and their concentration was determined via spectrophotometry. A culture of mouse lymphocyte tumor cells was grown, and the cytotoxicity of each nanoparticle formulation was assessed using an MTT assay. The tested coatings included tryptophan, oleate, citrate, glucose, and curry leaf compounds.

The results indicated that tryptophan and oleate-coated nanoparticles were significantly more effective in inducing cancer cell death. In contrast, glucose-coated nanoparticles performed worse than expected, while curry leaf-based nanoparticles exhibited minimal toxicity. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of AuNPs is primarily influenced by two factors: the bond strength between coating molecules and gold atoms, and the rate of uptake of the coating molecules by cancer cells. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the relationship between bond strength and effectiveness, paving the way for lower-cost future studies.

Overall, this study highlights the potential for utilizing common biomolecules, in conjunction with specific ligands, to engineer specialized gold nanoparticles for targeted cancer treatment. This approach could reduce side effects and enhance patient recovery by providing a more precise and safer option.