Synthesis and in vitro studies of gold nanoparticles loaded with docetaxel.

The aim of these studies was to synthesize, characterize and evaluate the efficacy of pegylated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) that differed in their PEG molecular weight, using PEG 550 and PEG 2000. The synthesis of the gold nanoparticles was carried out by modified Brust method with a diameter of 4-15 nm. The targeting agent folic acid was introduced by the covalent linkage. Finally, the anti-cancer drug docetaxel was encapsulated by the AuNPs by non covalent adsorption. The nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and used for in vitro studies against a hormone-responsive prostate cancer cell line, LnCaP. The loaded nanoparticles reduced the cell viability in more than 50% at concentrations of 6 nM and above after 144 h of treatment. Moreover, observation of prostate cancer cells by optical microscopy showed damage to the cells after exposure to drug-loaded AuNPs while unloaded AuNPs had much less effect.