Preparation of AuNPs/SF Nanofibers and Its Ability to Inhibit Tumor Growth in Breast Cancer-Bearing Animal Models

Abstract

Silk fibroin was used as a stabilizer for gold nanoparticles, and a direct silk fibroin-gold nanoparticle composite system was prepared by a direct compounding method in this paper. The stability of Au NPs/SF in phosphate buffer solution with different pH and KCl concentration was studied. The Au NPs/SF system was characterized by UV-visible light spectrum, transmission electron microscope and infrared spectrum. The silk fibroin-gold nanoparticle composite system was prepared by in situ reduction of chloroauric acid with silk fibroin, according to the change of solution color and the change of ultraviolet absorption peak. The effects of exogenous factors on the stability of the silk fibroin-gold nanoparticle in situ composite system were initially discussed, and its inhibition in breast cancer-bearing animal models was studied. In vivo experiments show that in situ injection of Au NPs/SF nanofibers and treatment with light can effectively control tumor growth. Compared with monodisperse gold nanoparticles, silk fibroin-gold nanoparticles can kill tumor cells and inhibit tumor tissue growth more effectively.