Mil protein-shelled gold nanoparticle to treat glioblastoma multiform

Abstract

Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) as a photothermal therapy (PTT) agent has been reported in various application due to its physical properties. If gold nanoparticle can be orally absorbed, its application may be extended. Unfortunately, it has low absorption efficiency from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to blood stream. To overcome its limitation orally, here we newly synthesized lactoferrin (Lf; a milk protein)-conjugated gold nanoparticles (Lf-AuNP). Interestingly, this Lf-AuNP could be orally absorbed and targeted to the brain cancer cells due to its interaction with lactoferrin receptor (Lf-R) on the intestinal cells, Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) and cancer cells. Based on these findings, the Lf-AuNP was orally absorbed with higher bioavailability and targeted to the brain cancer cells (U87MG cells) that was orthotopic animal model. Fortunately, when specified wavelength of laser was noninvasively irradiated to the head of orthotopic animals, the Lf-AuNP made the higher temperature to the head, thereby killing the brain cancer cells. Collectively this milk protein-based oral delivery of AuNP could be a promising strategy as a platform technology.