The anticancer activity of doxorubicin-loaded levan-functionalized gold nanoparticles synthesized by laser ablation.

Here, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized upon exposure to nano-pulsed Nd-YAG laser irradiation in de-ionized water (PLAL) and functionalized with levan polysaccharide for assessing the anticancer efficacy of doxorubicin (DOX)-conjugated levan-capped AuNPs complexes to MCF-7 breast cancer cells. According to the physicochemical test results, the increments in levan amount enhanced the colloidal stability and the drug encapsulation efficiency (DEE) significantly. For the 10L-AuNP group having the highest levan amount (10 mg/mL levan), DEE was calculated as 92.21 ± 0.56%. The lean levan, uncapped AuNPs, and 10L-AuNP were found non-cytotoxic (>80% cell viability) in the studied concentrations with 48 h MTT assays. At higher DOX loadings (25, 50, and 100 μg/mL) of 10L-AuNP, the cell viability reduced significantly compared to free DOX. Overall, these nanoparticle complexes could be proposed as potent drug delivery vehicles for cancer drugs such as DOX, as well as other drugs in the prospective studies. • Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) synthesis in levan solution via pulsed laser ablation • Levan increased the Doxorubicin (DOX) encapsulation efficiency of AuNP. • Levan, AuNP, and levan-capped AuNP were biocompatible in the concentrations used. • Levan-capped AuNP increased the cytotoxicity of DOX in higher concentrations. • Necrosis and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells were dependent on dosages of DOX/AuNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]