Abstract
Curcumin nanotechnologies have increased the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin by enhancing its bio-availability. We have previously reported on the synthesis of stable, uniform and biocompatible gold nanoparticles using curcumin (cAuNPs) alone as the reducing and stabilizing agent. Here, we provide evidence for the synergistic effect produced by both the gold core and curcumin against breast cancer cells. Spectroscopic and electron microscopic observations show that cAuNPs in biological medium get coated by proteins which aids in their endocytosis. Inside the cells, cAuNPs triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which then depletes mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Consequently, the pro-apoptotic protein Bax is released that activates PARP cleavage and DNA fragmentation. The final stages of apoptosis including chromatin condensation and loss of filopodia are visualized through microscopy. These findings provide insights into the mechanism of action of cAuNPs in inducing apoptosis and also suggest their promising candidature as a chemotherapeutic drug.
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