title: Photothermal therapeutic effect of PEGylated gold nano-semicubes in chemically-induced skin cancer in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The photothermal properties of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are promising therapeutic modality for cancer. The study objective is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of the prepared PEGylated gold nano-semicubes (PEG-GNSCs) in skin cancer. The synthesized PEG-GNSCs were intermediate between cubic and rod shapes (low aspect ratio- rods).
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro toxicity was investigated in human skin melanoma Sk-Mel-28 cells, and skin squamous cell carcinoma was induced in CD1 mice by dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The calculated IC50in Sk-Mel-28 cells was 3.41μg/ml of PEG-GNSCs, in presence of laser exposure. Photothermal therapy using laser-stimulated PEG-GNSCs resulted in inhibited volume of skin tumors. Our findings indicated that the inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide and cycloxygenase-2, were inhibited in mice after being treated with low and high doses of PEG-GNSCs, accompanied with laser exposure. However, the tumor necrosis factor -α was markedly elevated, while there was no change in 5-lipoxygenase. The pro-angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor was inhibited, while histone acetylation and apoptosis were induced in tumor-bearing groups, after being treated with laser-stimulated PEG-GNSCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicated the promising photothermal therapeutic effect of laser-stimulated PEG-GNSCs as an effective modality to inhibit the tumor growth, the angiogenesis and partially the inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology and Genetics Laboratory, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt; Department of Biochemistry, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mahmoud T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Abo-Elfadl
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology and Genetics Laboratory, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt; Department of Biochemistry, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: aeldeen7@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Amira M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gamal-Eldeen
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mostafa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Elshafey
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Gamil M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Abdalla
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Shawkey S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Advanced Material Sciences and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Center of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Dokki 12622, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Moustafa R K
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Advanced Material Sciences and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Center of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Dokki 12622, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mahmoud F M
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Zawrah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010789:Phototherapy; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006046:Gold
keywords: COX-2; Nitric oxide; PEGylated gold nano-semicubes; Skin cancer; TNF-α; VEGF