Specific photothermal killing of cancer cells by RNase-conjugated glyco-gold nanoparticles

Abstract The potential application of glycopolymer functionalized gold nanoparticles in cancer detection and treatment has received extensive attention. Ribonuclease, as a possible cancer therapeutic agent, can cause cell death through degrading intracellular RNA. In this work, ribonuclease (RNase) conjugated glyco-gold nanoparticles (R-GAuNPs) were constructed to improve the specific photothermal killing of cancer cells. The advantages of RNase, poly(2-methacrylamido glucopyranose) (pMAG) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) offer the nanocomposites with desirable anti-cancer effect. Ribonuclease and the glyco-gold nanoparticles cooperate with each other to increase the load of enzyme and uptake in cancer cells. Under near-infrared light, the elevated temperature due to the photothermal effect of the gold nanoparticles can increase the enzyme activity. These effects lead to the degradation of cellular RNA, and finally cause the death of cancer cells. Generally speaking, this nanomaterial is an innovative combination of protein chemotherapeutics and targeted nanoparticles, which will have great potential in biomedical researches.