Tabriz University of Medical Sciences BioImpacts 2228-5652 10 1 2020 01 01 PEGylated gold nanoparticles-ribonuclease induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells 27 36 10.15171/bi.2020.04 EN Mostafa Akbarzadeh Khiavi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1552-6537 Azam Safary https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8997-2003 Jaleh Barar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0105-919X Hamed Farzi-Khajeh Abolfazl Barzegari Rahimeh Mousavi Mohammad Hossein Somi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0770-9309 Yadollah Omidi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0067-2475 Journal Article 10.15171/bi.2020.04 2019 05 28 2019 07 08 Introduction: Currently, drug-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediating apoptosis pathway have extensively been investigated in designing effective strategies for colorectal cancer (CRC) chemotherapy. Bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) represents a new class of cytotoxic and non-mutagenic enzymes, and has gained more attention as a potential anticancer modality; however, the cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitors (RIs) restrict the clinical application of this enzyme. Nowadays, nanotechnology-based diagnostic and therapeutic systems have provided potential solutions for cancer treatments. Methods: In this study, the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized, stabilized by polyethylene glycol (PEG), functionalized, and covalently conjugated with RNase A. The physicochemical properties of engineered nanobiomedicine (AuNPs-PEG-RNase A) were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and UV-vis spectrum. Then, its biological impacts including cell viability, apoptosis, and ROS production were evaluated in the SW-480 cells. Results: The engineered nanobiomedicine, AuNPs-PEG-RNase A, was found to effectively induce apoptosis in SW-480 cells and result in a significant reduction in cancer cell viability. Besides, the maximum production of ROS was obtained after the treatment of cells with an IC50 dose of AuNPs-PEG-RNase A. Conclusion: Based on the efficient ROS-responsiveness and the anticancer activity of RNase A of the engineered nanomedicine, this nanoscaled biologics may be considered as a potential candidate for the treatment of CRC.