Ferritin nanocages loaded with gold ions induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.
Monti, D.M., Ferraro, G., Petruk, G., Maiore, L., Pane, F., Amoresano, A., Cinellu, M.A., Merlino, A.(2017) Dalton Trans 46: 15354-15362
- PubMed: 29072740 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c7dt02370g
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6ENV, 6ENW - PubMed 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.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia, I-80126, Napoli, Italy. antonello.merlino@unina.it.