TY - JOUR
T1 - Gold Nanocluster-Mediated Cellular Death under Electromagnetic Radiation
AU - Cifuentes-Rius, Anna
AU - Ivask, Angela
AU - Das, Shreya
AU - Pena Auladell, Nuria
AU - Fabregas , Laura
AU - Fletcher, Nicholas
AU - Houston, Zachary
AU - Thurecht, Kristofer James
AU - Voelcker, Nicolas Hans
PY - 2017/11/29
Y1 - 2017/11/29
N2 - Gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) have become a promising nanomaterial for cancer therapy because of their biocompatibility and fluorescent properties. In this study, the effect of ultrasmall protein-stabilized 2 nm Au NCs on six types of mammalian cells (fibroblasts, B-lymphocytes, glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, and two types of prostate cancer cells) under electromagnetic radiation is investigated. Cellular association of Au NCs in vitro is concentration-dependent, and Au NCs have low intrinsic toxicity. However, when Au NC-incubated cells are exposed to a 1 GHz electromagnetic field (microwave radiation), cell viability significantly decreases, thus demonstrating that Au NCs exhibit specific microwave-dependent cytotoxicity, likely resulting from localized heating. Upon i.v. injection in mice, Au NCs are still present at 24 h post administration. Considering the specific microwave-dependent cytotoxicity and low intrinsic toxicity, our work suggests the potential of Au NCs as effective and safe nanomedicines for cancer therapy.
AB - Gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) have become a promising nanomaterial for cancer therapy because of their biocompatibility and fluorescent properties. In this study, the effect of ultrasmall protein-stabilized 2 nm Au NCs on six types of mammalian cells (fibroblasts, B-lymphocytes, glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, and two types of prostate cancer cells) under electromagnetic radiation is investigated. Cellular association of Au NCs in vitro is concentration-dependent, and Au NCs have low intrinsic toxicity. However, when Au NC-incubated cells are exposed to a 1 GHz electromagnetic field (microwave radiation), cell viability significantly decreases, thus demonstrating that Au NCs exhibit specific microwave-dependent cytotoxicity, likely resulting from localized heating. Upon i.v. injection in mice, Au NCs are still present at 24 h post administration. Considering the specific microwave-dependent cytotoxicity and low intrinsic toxicity, our work suggests the potential of Au NCs as effective and safe nanomedicines for cancer therapy.
KW - cytotoxicity
KW - electromagnetic radiation
KW - gold nanoclusters
KW - hyperthermia
KW - microwave frequency
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85036455149&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acsami.7b13100
DO - 10.1021/acsami.7b13100
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85036455149
VL - 9
SP - 41159
EP - 41167
JO - ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
JF - ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
SN - 1944-8244
IS - 47
ER -