Silver nanoparticle loaded PLGA composite nanoparticles for improving therapeutic efficacy of recombinant IFN_γ by targeting the cell surface

摘要

The field of medical science has advanced significantly with the discoveries of new drugs and the development of sophisticated biomedical tools; still cancer therapy remains one of the major hurdles currently. Herein, we report a new approach, which exhibits complementary anti-cancer effects of recombinant IFN_γ protein and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) when loaded together in PLGA composite NPs (GST IFN_γ-Ag PLGA NPs). IFN_γ acts as an antiviral and tumoricidal agent. To augment therapeutic efficacy, IFN_γ was cloned, purified as GST tagged IFN_γ recombinant protein, and immobilized on the composite NPs preloaded with Ag NPs. The NPs were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. Finally, the composite NPs were delivered into two different human cancer cell types, HeLa (cervical cancer) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cells. Our results demonstrated that the recombinant IFN_γ could block the cell cycle at the G1 phase and its anticancer activity could be potentiated in the presence of Ag NPs. The interaction between the recombinant IFN_γ with its cell surface receptors facilitated the delivery of the composite NPs, and thus the combination of the duos ultimately led to induction of apoptosis in the cancer cells.