Anticancer effects against colorectal cancer models of chloro(triethylphosphine)gold(I) encapsulated in PLGA-PEG nanoparticles.
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ABSTRACT: Chloro(triethylphosphine)gold(I), (Et3PAuCl hereafter), is an Auranofin (AF)-related compound showing very similar biological and pharmacological properties. Like AF, Et3PAuCl exhibits potent antiproliferative properties in vitro toward a variety of cancer cell lines and is a promising anticancer drug candidate. We wondered whether Et3PAuCl encapsulation might lead to an improved pharmacological profile also considering the likely reduction of unwanted side-reactions that are responsible for adverse effects and for drug inactivation. Et3PAuCl was encapsulated in biocompatible PLGA-PEG nanoparticles (NPs) and the new formulation evaluated in colorectal HCT-116 cancer cells in comparison to the free gold complex. Notably, encapsulated Et3PAuCl (nano-Et3PAuCl hereafter) mostly retains the cellular properties of the free gold complex and elicits even greater cytotoxic effects in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, mediated by apoptosis and autophagy. Moreover, a remarkable inhibition of two crucial signaling pathways, i.e. ERK and AKT, by nano-Et3PAuCl, was clearly documented. The implications of these findings are discussed.
SUBMITTER: Menconi A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8313464 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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