Self-assembled drug loaded glycosyl-protein metal nanoconstruct: Detailed synthetic procedure and therapeutic effect in solid tumor treatment.

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery research has largely focused on developing well efficient localized delivery therapeutic agents to overcome the limitations of non-specificity and toxicity of conventional chemotherapy. Herein, we constructed a nanoplatform based on a self-assembled polysaccharide-protein conjugate to deliver anti-tumor drug doxorubicin and gold nanoparticles (DOX@PST-BSA AuNPs) for cancer therapy. The self-assembled DOX@PST-BSA AuNPs exhibited higher stability and thermal properties which enable them for drug delivery via passive targeting. The fluorescent property of the drug contributes to the self-monitoring of NPs Biodistribution in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the NPs showed negligible cytotoxicity and tissue accumulation in normal cells in vivo. Importantly, the NPs could load the anti-tumor drug with high encapsulation efficiency and competently delivered into the tumor microenvironment thereby inhibit tumor growth significantly through apoptotic induction. Notably, DOX@PST-BSA AuNPs exhibits low systemic toxicity and very few side effects in vivo. Based on the explored features, these NPs could serve as a promising multifunctional drug delivery nanoplatform for cancer therapy.