Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 2012-08-01

Controllable synthesis and adjustable antineoplastic activity of bovine serum albumin‐conjugated PbS/Ag2S core/shell nano-composites

Hua-Jie Wang, Xue-Hong Yu, Ying Cao, Bei Zhou, Cai-Feng Wang, Hua-Jie Wang, Xue-Hong Yu, Ying Cao, Bei Zhou, Cai-Feng Wang

Index: J. Inorg. Biochem. 113 , 40-6, (2012)

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Abstract

Series of mono-dispersed bovine serum albumin (BSA)‐conjugated PbS/Ag2S core/shell nano-composites with different Pb/Ag ratios had been successfully synthesized by an ion-exchange method under the gentle conditions using BSA-conjugated PbS nano-crystals as precursors, which were prepared by a biomimetic method. Fourier transform infrared spectra analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation demonstrated that BSA was a key factor to control the morphology and size of final products. Additionally, the real-time TEM observation, X-ray powder diffraction and atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis were applied to monitor the synthesis process. The results indicated that the shell thickness and ratio of Pb to Ag could be controlled by adjusting the ion-exchange time. Both metabolic and morphological methods revealed that the proliferation of rat pheochromocytoma (PC 12) cells could be inhibited by BSA-conjugated PbS/Ag2S core/shell nano-composites, and the antineoplastic activity was Pb/Ag ratio-dependent. It might be explained by a Trojan horse-type mechanism. Summarily, the present study would be helpful to find a new core/shell nano-composite with higher and controllable antineoplastic activity due to the synergistic reaction of different metal ions.