title: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-tumor properties of gold nanoparticles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are regarded as potential platforms for drug delivery. However, their interaction with live organisms must be understood prior to their utilization as drug carriers. The present study reports the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-tumor effects of GNPs. The biodistribution of GNPs and their effect on various tissues have also been studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  GNPs were synthesized through an environmentally friendly route and characterized with TEM and UV-vis. After HT-29 cells had been exposed to GNPs, apoptosis was assessed with Annexin V and propidium iodide staining and caspase-3 activity determined with a confocal laser scanning microscope. GNPs were administrated to male and female Swiss mice for posterior assessment of their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The biodistribution of GNPs and their impact on tissues were studied with UV-vis and histopathological analysis, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cell apoptosis was observed in a dose-dependent manner for GNPs concentrations ranging from 40μg/mL to 80μg/mL (p<0.05). The best anti-inflammatory activity was observed at the dose of 1500μg/kg, which caused a reduction of 49.3% in leukocyte migration. GNPs showed peripheral analgesia at the dose of 1500μg/kg and have been found in liver, spleen, kidney and lungs. Histopathological examination revealed extravasation of red blood cells in lungs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study draws attention to gold nanoparticles as a resource for technological innovation in the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-tumor fields. GNPs have biological effects that deserve investigation to assess their full interaction with organic systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil; Post Graduation Programme in Structural and Functional Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil; Post Graduation Programme in Health Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil. Electronic address: araujojr@cb.ufrn.br.
authors.forename: Raimundo Fernandes
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Post Graduation Programme in Public Health, Post graduation programme in Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aurigena Antunes
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.affiliation: Post Graduation Programme in Structural and Functional Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jonas Bispo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Pessoa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Franscisco Paulo
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Freire Neto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Post Graduation Programme in Public Health, Post graduation programme in Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gisele Ribeiro
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Post Graduation Programme in Health Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Luiza C S
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Leitão Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Post Graduation Programme in Health Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thaís Gomes
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Group of Biological Chemistry and Chemometrics, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heloiza F O
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biotechnology - Labio, National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology - Inmetro, Duque de Caxias 25250-020, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mateus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eugênio
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biotechnology - Labio, National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology - Inmetro, Duque de Caxias 25250-020, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sant'Anna
authors.affiliation: Group of Biological Chemistry and Chemometrics, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil. Electronic address: lhgasparotto@ufrnet.br.
authors.forename: Luiz H S
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Gasparotto
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006046:Gold
keywords: Anti-inflammatory activity; Cancer cell apoptosis; Gold nanoparticles; Peripheral analgesia