Uptake of Gold Nanoparticles in Breathless (Hypoxic) Cancer Cells

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are emerging as promising novel agents for cancer therapy. However, the oxygen concentration in human tumors is highly heterogeneous, and there are many regions with very low levels of oxygen (hypoxia). A majority of solid tumors contain regions with oxygen pressure values of less than 0.7% in the gas phase. The purpose of this study was to investigate NP stability, toxicity, and cellular uptake under hypoxic conditions. GNPs 50 nm in diameter were used, and the experiment was performed under 0.2% (hypoxic) and 21% (normoxic) oxygen levels using MCF-7 and HeLa cells. Hypoxic cells with prolonged exposure (eighteen hours) to hypoxia had a higher NP uptake at both 6- and 24-hour NP incubation time points. No significant toxicity was introduced by NPs under hypoxic and normoxic conditions. These findings will play a vital role in the optimization of GNP-based therapeutics in cancer treatment.