Biomimetic Keratin Gold Nanoparticle-Mediated In Vitro Photothermal Therapy on Glioblastoma Multiforme

Abstract

Aim: To realize and characterize a new generation of keratin-coated gold nanoparticles (Ker-AuNPs) as highly efficient photosensitive nanosized therapeutics for plasmonic photothermal (PPT) therapy. Materials & methods: The chemical, physical, morphological and photothermal properties of Ker-AuNPs are investigated using dynamic light scattering, ζ-potential, UV–Visible, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution thermography. In vitro experiments are performed on a human glioblastoma cell line (i.e., U87-MG), using viability assays, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, cytometric analyses and PPT experiments. Results: Experiments confirm the excellent biocompatibility of Ker-AuNPs, their efficient cellular uptake and localized photothermal heating capabilities. Conclusion: The reported structural and functional properties pointed out these Ker-AuNPs as a promising new tool in the field of biocompatible photothermal agents for PPT treatments against cancer-related diseases.

Graphical abstract

Lay abstract

This work involves the synthesis and application of nanosized keratin-coated gold particles; a protein extracted from wool. Their effect against a specific type of brain cancer, glioblastoma, is investigated. Gold nanoparticles have been the subject of a lot of interest recently due to their ability to convert light energy into heat energy. When the keratin-coated nanoparticles were up taken into cancerous cells and exposed to light from a laser, they heated up and killed the cancer cells. The next step for this research is to conduct more detailed studies in animals, hopefully leading to a new generation of nanosized therapeutics in the fight against cancer.

Keywords::

• cancer
• gold nanoparticles
• keratin
• optics
• thermoplasmonics

Author contributions

L De Sio and G Perotto conceived the idea and designed the experiments. A Guglielmelli, R Pani and L De Sio conducted the photothermal experiments. P Rosa and A Calogero performed the cell viability experiments. M Contardi, M Prato and A Athanassiou performed the spectroscopic studies. G Mangino realized the FACS characterization. S Miglietta and V Petrozza realized the transmission electron microscopy characterization. G Perotto realized the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles. A Guglielmelli, G Perotto and L De Sio wrote the paper. L De Sio and G Perotto supervised the project. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The research leading to the reported results has received funding from: Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and US Air Force grant n° FA9550-18-1-0038 (P. I. L. De Sio, EOARD 2017–2020) and the Materials and Manufacturing; Sapienza University of Rome, under grant n° RM11816431206A2C (Progetto di Ateneo 2018, P. I. L. De Sio); POR FESR – Regione Lazio ‘Progetti Strategici’ ‘NANO-TAFT’, under grant n° A0320-2019-28166; Fondazione Cariplo, grant n° 2018–1005. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge S Lauciello at the Electron Microscopy Facility in the Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia for his help with transmission electron microscopy characterization.

Additional information

Funding

The research leading to the reported results has received funding from: Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and US Air Force grant n° FA9550-18-1-0038 (P. I. L. De Sio, EOARD 2017–2020) and the Materials and Manufacturing; Sapienza University of Rome, under grant n° RM11816431206A2C (Progetto di Ateneo 2018, P. I. L. De Sio); POR FESR – Regione Lazio ‘Progetti Strategici’ ‘NANO-TAFT’, under grant n° A0320-2019-28166; Fondazione Cariplo, grant n° 2018–1005. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.