Retention of Anticancer Activity of Curcumin after Conjugation with Fluorescent Gold Quantum Clusters: An in Vitro and in Vivo Xenograft Study.

ABSTRACT: Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have been thoroughly investigated for anti-cancer therapy. However, their undesired high gold content remains a problem when injected into the body for drug delivery applications. In this report, we made an effort to conjugate the curcumin molecules on the surface of gold quantum clusters (Au QCs) by a novel in situ synthesis method which provides an alternative route to not only reduce the metallic content but also increase the water solubility of curcumin and the loading efficiency. Here, curcumin itself acts as a reducing and capping agent for the synthesis of Au QCs. The UV-vis absorption, fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry results confirmed the synthesis of fluorescent Au QCs. Curcumin-conjugated Au

SUBMITTER: Khandelwal P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6045371 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature