Effects of AuNPs@PEG-AS1411 nanoparticles on radiosensitization of HeLa cancer cells

Objective To study the effects of AuNPs@PEG-AS1411 nanoparticles on radiosensitization of human uterine cervix cancer HeLa cells. Methods AuNPs were synthesized by citrate reduction method and then functioned with PEG and PEG-AS1411, respectively. CCK-8 assay and colon forming assay were used to detect the acute and chronic toxicity effects of AuNPs on HeLa cells, respectively. At the same time, clonogenic survival assay was applied to measure the cell survival rate of HeLa cells after exposure to AuNPs@PEG and AuNPs@PEG-AS1411 combined with X-ray radiation. The intracellular uptake of AuNPs@PEG and AuNPs@PEG-AS1411 in HeLa cells were detected by ICP-MS. Results The CCK-8 assay showed that AuNPs@PEG and AuNPs@PEG-AS1411 were not toxical on HeLa cells(P>0.05). But the clonogenic survival assay showed that AuNPs@PEG and AuNPs@PEG-AS1411 had toxicity on HeLa cells significantly after 10 d(t=4.38-11.60, P<0.05). AuNPs functioned with AS1411 could increase the cellular uptake of AuNPs. AuNPs@PEG and AuNPs@PEG-AS1411 both had significant radiosensitive effect on HeLa cells (F=7.90, 48.23, P<0.05). The values of SERDo for AuNPs@PEG and AuNPs@PEG-AS1411 were 1.12 and 1.20, respectively, when the concentration of Au was 10 mg/L. Conclusions AuNPs@PEG and AuNPs@PEG-AS1411 could cause chronic toxicity on HeLa cells instead of acute effect. PEGylated AuNPs functioned with AS1411 could enhance the radiosensitivity of HeLa cells in vitro. Key words: AS1411; Au nanoparticles; Radiosensitization