Gold nanoparticles loaded TNF-α and CALNN peptide as a drug delivery system and promising therapeutic agent for breast cancer cells

ABSTRACT We investigated the anti-cancer properties of gold nanoparticles loaded TNF- and CALNN peptides, which we proposed as a potential drug delivery system using in vitro and in vivo models. The binding of GNPs-TNF- and GNPs-TNF-CALNN was characterized using a UV, ELISA and SEM analysis. The outcomes demonstrated that a novel drug delivery system had an anti-proliferative activity against breast cancer cell lines through a mechanism of apoptosis induction. In vivo model involved studying the cytotoxic influence of a drug delivery system GNPs, GNPs-TNF-α and GNPs-TNF-α-CALNN when applied to the transplanted AN-3 cell line. tumor sections were examined using microarray. In-vivo studies demonstrated that GNPs alone had less of a growth inhibitory effect on tumors implanted in mice when compared to GNPs-TNF – CALNN combined therapy. The cytotoxic assay showed that GNPs, GNPs-TNF-α and GNPs-TNF-α-CALNN exhibit selective toxicity towards cancer cells, inducing cell apoptosis through activation of caspase-3 and 7, p53 protein.