Effect of Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles on Cell Interface and Their Enhanced Intracellular Uptake of Arsenic Trioxide in Leukemia Cancer Cells

Currently, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have been applied in cancer therapy and early diagnosis as a useful tool. In this study, the functionalized Au NPs capped with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) were fabricated and the effects of these Au NPs on both leukemia cell lines, sensitive K562 cell line and adriamycin-resistant K562/A02 (KA) cell line, were also explored by static contact angle analysis and electrochemical assay. Meanwhile, the effects of cytotoxicity suppression of arsenic trioxide (AS(2)O(3)) on both leukemia cell lines in the absence and presence of Au NPs have also been investigated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyI (MTT) assay. The results demonstrate that the functionalized Au NPs could increase the hydrophobicity of both cell suspensions, greatly decrease the peak potential of both cell lines, and facilitate the cellular uptake of anticancer drug As2O3 into leukemia K562 cancer cells. In addition, the Au NPs could inhibit the function of P-glycoprotein to improve the relevant drug accumulation in target drug-resistant cancer cells and thus enhance the cytotoxicity suppression of As2O3. This raises the great potential application of Au NPs in the future leukemia chemotherapy.