چکیده (انگلیسی):

Research on nanoparticles has created interest among the biomedical scientists. Nanoparticle
conjugation aims to target drug delivery, increase drug efficacy and imaging for better
diagnosis. Toxicity profile of the nanoconjugated molecules has not been studied well. In
this communication, the toxicity profile of snake venom cytotoxin (NKCT1), an antileukemic
protein toxin, was evaluated after its conjugation with gold nanoparticle (GNP-NKCT1).
Gold nanoparticle conjugation with NKCT1 was done with NaBH4 reduction method. The
conjugated product GNP-NKCT1 was found less toxic than NKCT1 on isolated rat lymphocyte,
mice peritoneal macrophage, in culture, which was evident from the MTT/Trypan blue
assay. Peritoneal mast cell degranulation was in the order of NKCT1 > GNP-NKCT1. The in
vitro cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity were increased in case of NKCT1 than GNP-NKCT1.
On isolated kidney tissue, NKCT1 released significant amount of ALP and -GT than GNPNKCT1.
Gold nanoconjugation with NKCT1 also reduced the lethal activity in mice. In vivo
acute/sub-chronic toxicity studies in mice showed significant increase in molecular markers
due to NKCT1 treatment, which was reduced by gold nanoconjugation. Histopathology
study showed decreased toxic effect of NKCT1 in kidney tissue after GNP conjugation. The
present study confirmed that GNP conjugation significantly decreased the toxicity profile
of NKCT1. Further studies are in progress to establish the molecular mechanism of GNP
induced toxicity reduction.