Synthesis and characterization of Arabic gum capped gold nanoparticles for tumor-targeted drug delivery

• GNPs were prepared using Vitex negundo L. leaves extract as the reducing agent.
• Epirubicin-loaded GNPs showed more therapeutic efficacy than free epirubicin.
• GNPs coupled with folic acid for targeted delivery of epirubicin to A549 cells.

In this study, green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) was achieved by sunlight-mediated method using the leaves extract of Vitex negundo(V. negundo) as a reducing agent and Arabic gum is used as a capping agent. Epirubicin-loaded Arabic gum-capped gold nanoparticles (E-GNPs) was synthesized and then functionalized with folic acid for tumor-targeted drug delivery. Folic acid-functionalized (Fa-E-GNPs) nanoparticles were characterized by different physicochemical characterization methods such as UV spectra, FESEM, particle size analysis, zeta potential, SAED and HRTEM. In vitro stability of the Fa-E-GNPs was also analyzed. The Fa-E-GNPs showed enhanced cytotoxic effects on lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cell line, suggesting that the folic acid functionalization led to cancer cell targeting and in turn increased the uptake of epirubicin by cancer cells.

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