A proposal for the adsorption of anastrozole anticancer drug on gold nanoparticle surfaces

Abstract

AbstractAnastrozole is a well‐known anticancer drug used in aromatase‐dependent cancer chemotherapy as a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor. Investigations involving the adsorption of anastrozole on gold surfaces are on demand, because gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been used as nanocarriers of drugs, and such a compound can be used against aromatase‐expressing neoplastic cells. In this work, surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy was used to investigate the interaction between anastrozole and the surfaces of AuNPs. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to simulate the molecular interactions with gold atom through two possible ways, triazole or nitrile moieties. Experimental results, supported by DFT calculations to assign main vibrational modes, indicate that the nitrile groups are the most preferred anchorage moieties for the adsorption.