Issue 30, 2021

A pH-controlled one-pot synthesis of gold nanostars by using a zwitterionic protein hydrolysate (gelatin): an enhanced radiosensitization of cancer cells

Abstract

For the first time, the present study reports that gelatin, a protein hydrolysate, can be used as a stabilizing agent for the green seedless synthesis of gold (Au) nanoparticles of varying shapes (spherical, triangular and star) of identical size (∼60 nm). The detailed investigation revealed that the concentration of gelatin and the pH of a reaction mixture primarily dictated the shape of Au nanoparticles. The reaction mixture containing Au-salt (3 mM) and lower concentrations (0.5%) of gelatin at acidic pH (3–6) favoured the formation of anisotropic nanoparticles (star and triangular shaped). On the contrary, the reaction mixture containing similar precursors at basic pH (pH = 9) favoured the formation of isotropic spherical shaped particles. Furthermore, although ascorbic acid as a reducing agent did not play any role in shape determination, it was required for the formation of nanoparticles at lower pH. However, at higher pH, gelatin itself acted as a reducing agent and supported the formation of nanoparticles. Finally, the radio-sensitizing effect of Au nanoparticles was evaluated in human lung cancer cells (A549) in combination with varying absorbed doses (2–8 Gy) of γ-radiation. This study indicated that the star shaped Au nanoparticles exhibited higher radio-sensitization in comparison to the spherical and triangular shaped Au nanoparticles with a dose modification factor of 0.76.

Graphical abstract: A pH-controlled one-pot synthesis of gold nanostars by using a zwitterionic protein hydrolysate (gelatin): an enhanced radiosensitization of cancer cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Apr 2021
Accepted
15 Jun 2021
First published
16 Jun 2021

New J. Chem., 2021,45, 13271-13279

A pH-controlled one-pot synthesis of gold nanostars by using a zwitterionic protein hydrolysate (gelatin): an enhanced radiosensitization of cancer cells

R. P. Das, V. V. Gandhi, B. G. Singh and A. Kunwar, New J. Chem., 2021, 45, 13271 DOI: 10.1039/D1NJ01903A

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