Ferritin nanocages loaded with gold ions induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Abstract

Two anticancer gold(III) compounds, Au₂phen and Auoxo4, were encapsulated within a ferritin nanocage. The gold-compound loaded proteins were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and circular dichroism. X-ray crystallography shows that the compounds degrade upon encapsulation and gold(I) ions bind Ft within the cage, close to the side chains of Cys126. The gold-encapsulated nanocarriers are cytotoxic to human cancer cells. Au(I)-loaded Ft, obtained upon the encapsulation of Au₂phen within the cage, induces oxidative stress activation, which finally leads to apoptosis in MCF-7 cells.