Effective Strategy for the Synthesis of Biocompatible Gold Nanoparticles Using Cinnamon Phytochemicals for Phantom CT Imaging and Photoacoustic Detection of Cancerous Cells

• Published in: Pharmaceutical research Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 279 - 291
• Main Authors: Chanda, Nripen, Shukla, Ravi, Zambre, Ajit, Mekapothula, Swapna, Kulkarni, Rajesh R, Katti, Kavita, Bhattacharyya, Kiran, Fent, Genevieve M, Casteel, Stan W, Boote, Evan J, Viator, John A, Upendran, Anandhi, Kannan, Raghuraman, Katti, Kattesh V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Boston : Springer US 01-02-2011; Springer US; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry; Biological products; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedicine; cancer cells; Cell Line, Tumor; Cellular biology; cellular internalization; Cinnamomum zeylanicum - chemistry; cinnamon-stabilized gold nanoparticles; Contrast Media - chemistry; Fibroblasts; Gold; Gold - chemistry; Humans; in vivo biodistribution; Medical imaging; Medical Law; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Mice; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology - methods; Neoplasms - diagnosis; Neoplasms - pathology; phantom CT imaging; Phantoms, Imaging; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pharmacy; photoacoustic detection; Radiographic Image Enhancement - methods; Research Paper; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Tissue Distribution; biodistribution; cancer cells; cellular internalization; photoacoustic detection; cinnamon-stabilized gold nanoparticles; phantom CT imaging
• ISSN: 0724-8741; 1573-904X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11095-010-0276-6

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to explore the utilization of cinnamon-coated gold nanoparticles (Cin-AuNPs) as CT/optical contrast-enhancement agents for detection of cancer cells. Methods Cin-AuNPs were synthesized by a “green” procedure, and the detailed characterization was performed by physico-chemical analysis. Cytotoxicity and cellular uptake studies were carried out in normal human fibroblast and cancerous (PC-3 and MCF-7) cells, respectively. The efficacy of detecting cancerous cells was monitored using a photoacoustic technique. In vivo biodistribution was studied after IV injection of Cin-AuNPs in mice, and also a CT phantom model was generated. Results Biocompatible Cin-AuNPs were synthesized with high purity. Significant uptake of these gold nanoparticles was observed in PC-3 and MCF-7 cells. Cin-AuNPs internalized in cancerous cells facilitated detectable photoacoustic signals. In vivo biodistribution in normal mice showed steady accumulation of gold nanoparticles in lungs and rapid clearance from blood. Quantitative analysis of CT values in phantom model revealed that the cinnamon-phytochemical-coated AuNPs have reasonable attenuation efficiency. Conclusions The results indicate that these non-toxic Cin-AuNPs can serve as excellent CT/ photoacoustic contrast-enhancement agents and may provide a novel approach toward tumor detection through nanopharmaceuticals.