The development of targeting nanosystems for the treatment of glioblastoma and neuroblastoma tumours
Abstract
Chlorotoxin (CTX) peptide selectively targets glioblastoma multiforme (GB) and
neuroblastoma (NB) and has excellent blood-brain barrier permeability. Therefore, CTX is a
promising targeting molecule for nanoparticle (NP) based diagnostic and therapeutic
applications. Bimetallic gold-platinum nanoparticles (AuPtNPs) have recently attracted great
attention for anti-cancer and catalysis applications due to the synergistic effects of combined
metal atoms which enhance NP properties when compared to their monometallic NP
counterparts. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop gold NPs (AuNPs) and AuPtNPs,
both conjugated to CTX for treatment in GB and NB cancer cells in vitro.