Preparation of gold nanoparticles-α lactalbumin binary complex for Breast Cancer therapy

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles are used normally for biomedical application like cancer diagnosis and have been used as drug carriers. α-lactalbumin (α-lac) protein has been observed to have anti-cancerous potential. Monodispersed and stable gold nanoparticles were synthesized by three different methods: microemulsion process, green synthesis from Cannabis indica leaf (bhang) extract and citrate reduction process. The nanoparticles were characterized by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), UV-Visible spectroscopy and DLS (Dynamic Light Scattering). The gold nanoparticles average sizes were found to be 10nm, 47nm and 140.6 nm synthesized from microemulsion, citrate reduction method and green synthesis respectively. It has been found that Cannabis indica leaf extract has the capability to act as a reducing agent during synthesis of gold nanoparticles. In the present investigation we have synthesized gold nanoparticle- α-lac protein conjugate which were used for breast cancer therapy. Gold nanoparticle- α-lac protein conjugates were prepared in vitro and their effect on breast cancer cell lines have been observed. Conjugates of gold nanoparticles prepared by bhang reduction method and α-lactalbumin protein showed better efficiency in the inhibition of proliferation of MDAMB-231 breast cancer cells than conjugates of gold nanoparticles prepared by citrate reduction method and α-lactalbumin protein. Nanophotothermolysis was also observed in the gold nanoparticles prepared from bhang reduction method in the presence of light.