Synthesis and characterization of aminolevulinic acid with gold and iron nanoparticles by photoreduction method for non‑communicable diseases diagnosis and therapy

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a group of chronic diseases resulted by genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors and life style. The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Some of therapeutic treatments for NCDs induce severe cytotoxicity to normal cells. New treatments as photodynamic and sonodynamic therapies have been proposed trying to improve the cure rate and reduce the side-effects. In these treatments certain drugs as porphyrins precursors associated to metal nanoparticles (MNPs) have become of extreme interest since have high targeting ability and potentiality to destroy tumor tissues. MNPs can induce cell death through various processes, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and DNA damage, among others. In this work, we describe synthesis of MNPs by photoreduction with aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a protoporphyrin IX precursor. To obtain ALA:MNPs (M = Au or/and Fe), ALA, polyethylene glycol, and Tetrachloroauric acid and/or iron powder water solutions were irradiated by Xenon lamp. The UV–vis spectra, transmission electron microscopy and zeta potential were measured to characterize nanoparticles. The proposed mechanism of nanoparticle formation was described from a physicochemical perspective. The THP-1 macrophages cytotoxicity was determined, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) with high power LED at 590 nm for 2 min were performed. The results have suggested that the gold/iron nanoparticles interfere in the selectivity of iron transport across the mitochondrial inner membrane and enhance the effectiveness of the PDT acting as important agent for NCDs control.