Doxorubicin Loaded Gold Nanoparticles Mitigate Liver Fibrosis and Inflammatory Cytokines Gene Expression in Rat.

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles have the potential to be used as a carrier in drug delivery system due to their small size, large surface area and short circulation time in blood. This study aims that doxorubicin conjugation with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) may reduce its toxicity as well as improve therapeutic efficacy. Five groups of Albino rats were used; 1: healthy control, 2: Injured, 3: injured and treated with Dox, 4: Injured and treated with AuNPs, 5: Injured and treated with AuNPs: Dox. At the end of the experiment, blood and liver tissues were processed for biochemical and histopathological analysis. The expression of collagen, HO-1, IL-6 and TNF-α genes involved in liver fibrosis was observed through real-time PCR. At the end of the experiment, it was observed that the body weights of DOX treated rats decreased by 0.72%, however, AuNPs and Au: DOX treated rats were 15.3% and 29.13% respectively. The percentage of liver protection determined through alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in DOX, AuNPs and AuNPs: DOX treated groups were 39.21%, 79.26%, 98.17% and 47.77%, 84.17%, 97.92% respectively. That represents better recovering liver in Dox-AuNPs treated rats compared to others. Histopathological and gene expression studies further support the findings. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress related genes HO-1, IL-6 and TNF-α were upregulated in the injured group but downregulated in the treated group. As depicted through biochemical, histopathological and gene expression studies, Au: DOX conjugate group seems to be protective against liver fibrosis.