Citrate reduced gold nanoparticles lowered lipid content in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes by altering the...

Obesity and related metabolic disorders are increasing at alarming rates worldwide, posing a major public health challenge. Current anti-obesity therapies are limited by toxicity and adverse side effects, highlighting the need for alternative strategies. Nanotechnology offers a promising approach, with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) attracting significant attention in biomedical applications due to their unique physicochemical properties and potential therapeutic effects. This study investigated the anti-lipogenic effects of citrate-capped AuNPs (cAuNPs) on differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The 14 nm cAuNPs were synthesized using the citrate reduction method and characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of cAuNPs were evaluated on cell viability, lipid accumulation, and gene expression in 3T3-L1 cells and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. cAuNPs were non-cytotoxic to 3T3-L1 cells at concentrations up to 400 nM. Oil Red O (ORO) staining revealed a concentration-dependent reduction in lipid accumulation, with the maximal effect at 72 h. Gene expression analysis using RT² PCR arrays identified 35 differentially expressed genes, with significant alterations in genes related to adipogenesis and lipid metabolism. Functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction (PPi) network analyses highlighted modulation of PPAR signalling and key hub genes involved in adipocyte function. These findings demonstrated that cAuNPs exert anti-adipogenic effects by altering molecular pathways associated with lipid storage, suggesting their potential as a nanotechnology-based strategy for obesity management. Future in vivo studies will be essential to assess their therapeutic efficacy and safety in order to advance AuNPs as innovative anti-obesity agents.