Synthesis and characterisation of new designed protoporphyrin-stabilised gold nanoparticles for cancer cells nanotechnology-based targeting

Nanotechnology has entered the field of medicine in recent dacades and especially, in drug delivery systems, nanoparticles have shown an ability to improve pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy and to reduce the toxicity of associated drugs. In this study, we have designed a new protoporphyrin-conjugated gold nanoparticle to selectively target and photo- or sonodynamic therapy of tumoural cells. In order to improve the cell uptake effect of protoporphyrin and their derivatives, gold nanoparticle was chosen as carrier. For this purpose, we used 6-mercapto-1-hexanol, as a bifunctional linker to react with protoporphyrin with an ester-linkage formation. Then, we conjugated the thiol-terminated protoporphyrin to the gold nanoparticles through a fast and single-phase system reaction with HAuCl in the presence of sodium borohydride. Finally, we evaluated the specific interaction between the protoporphyrin and gold nanoparticles by the elemental analysis, atomic absorption and UV-vis spectrum. Transmission electron microscopic images reveal the spherical gold nanoparticles formation with the average size about 7 nm. Therefore, we have synthesised gold nanoparticle conjugates with protoporphyrin which could be used as a biocompatible drug delivery system.

Keywords: cancer cell targeting, protoporphyrin, photodynamic therapy, gold nanoparticles, nanotechnology, cancer cells, drug delivery, biocompatibility