Curcumin reduced gold nanoparticles synergistically induces ROS mediated apoptosis in MCF-7 cancer cells

Abstract

Curcumin nanotechnologies have increased the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin by enhancing its bio-availability. We have previously reported on the synthesis of stable, uniform and biocompatible gold nanoparticles using curcumin (cAuNPs) alone as the reducing and stabilizing agent. Here, we provide evidence for the synergistic effect produced by both the gold core and curcumin against breast cancer cells. Spectroscopic and electron microscopic observations show that cAuNPs in biological medium get coated by proteins which aids in their endocytosis. Inside the cells, cAuNPs triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which then depletes mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Consequently, the pro-apoptotic protein Bax is released that activates PARP cleavage and DNA fragmentation. The final stages of apoptosis including chromatin condensation and loss of filopodia are visualized through microscopy. These findings provide insights into the mechanism of action of cAuNPs in inducing apoptosis and also suggest their promising candidature as a chemotherapeutic drug.

Keywords:

• Curcumin
• gold nanoparticles
• apoptosis
• reactive oxygen species
• breast cancer
• synergistic effect

Acknowledgements

One of the authors (K.S) acknowledges CSIR, India for the Senior Research Fellowship.

Disclosure statement

All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the Director, Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai, India for the support provided. They also gratefully acknowledge Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India for financial support provided through the network project STRAIT (CSC0102).