Gold-based drug encapsulation within a ferritin nanocage: X-ray structure and biological evaluation as a potential anticancer agent of the Auoxo3-loaded protein.
Auoxo3, a cytotoxic gold(iii) compound, was encapsulated within a ferritin nanocage. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, circular dichroism, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography confirm the potential-drug encapsulation. The structure shows that naked Au(i) ions bind to the side chains of Cys48, His49, His114, His114 and Cys126, Cys126, His132, His147. The gold-encapsulated nanocarrier has a cytotoxic effect on different aggressive human cancer cells, whereas it is significantly less cytotoxic for non-tumorigenic cells.
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia, I-80126, Napoli, Italy. antonello.merlino@unina.it.
Giarita
G
Ferraro
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia, I-80126, Napoli, Italy. antonello.merlino@unina.it.
Daria Maria
DM
Monti
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia, I-80126, Napoli, Italy. antonello.merlino@unina.it.
Angela
A
Amoresano
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia, I-80126, Napoli, Italy. antonello.merlino@unina.it.
Nicola
N
Pontillo
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia, I-80126, Napoli, Italy. antonello.merlino@unina.it.
Ganna
G
Petruk
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia, I-80126, Napoli, Italy. antonello.merlino@unina.it.
Francesca
F
Pane
Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy and CIRCC, Consorzio Interuniversitario Reattività Chimica e Catalisi, Università di Bari, Via Celso Ulpiani 27, 70126 Bari, Italy.
Maria Agostina
MA
Cinellu
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia, I-80126, Napoli, Italy. antonello.merlino@unina.it and CNR Institute of Biostructures and Bioimages, Via Mezzocannone 16, I-80126, Napoli, Italy.
Antonello
A
Merlino
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005293:Ferritins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D050607:Organogold Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D050607:Organogold Compounds; D006046:Gold; D005293:Ferritins