Conjugation of Au Nanoparticles with Chlorambucil for Improved Anticancer Activity

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of 30–40 nm in size has been prepared using A. hirsutus leaves extract as reducing agent for Au3+ ions under microwave irradiation from 60 to 360 s. These biocapped AuNPs were effectively conjugated with activated folic acid (FA, receptor) and chlorambucil (CHL, anticancer drug) molecules. The formation of AuNPs–FA–CHL was confirmed from different characterization techniques such as XRD, UV–Visible spectra, FT-IR and TEM images. The anticancer activity of these bioconjugated AuNPs was tested against human cancer cell lines (HeLa, RKO and A549) in comparison with normal epithelial cells (Vero). Unlike AuNPs and CHL alone, AuNPs–FA–CHL showed high toxicity towards human cancer cells by significantly decreasing the percentage viability of cells. Furthermore, the amount of drug released was found to be maximum at an ideal tumor environment pH 5.3.