Protein assisted one pot controlled synthesis of monodispersed and multifunctional colloidal silver gold alloy nanoparticles

Here, we prepared gold silver alloy nanoparticle (AgAuNPcs) of similar to 8.5 nm mean size via one-pot biogenic synthesis using casein as reducing as well as capping agent and explored its potential in various biomedical applications using curcumin (CUR) as a drug delivery agent. When we prepared the nanoconjugate with curcumin (AgAuNPCS-CUR) of 10.5 nm mean size via chemical activation followed by loading, it demonstrated excellent curcumin loading capacity (221.19 mg/g). Furthermore, AgAuNPCS-CUR exhibited pH driven CUR release up to a maximum of 85% at a pH 6.0. We also observed its significant storage stability up to 30 days at 4 degrees C. When applied in cancer cells, the nanoconjugate demonstrated higher cytotoxicity to multiple cancer cells (MCF-7, MDAMB231, HeLa and MG 63) than free CUR. However, such cytotoxicity was further enhanced by nearly similar to 8-10% using the folate receptor (FR)-based targeting. Furthermore, it demonstrated excellent antioxidant, as well as anti-inflammatory activity (NO assay) and such activity was found higher than that of free CUR. Both AgAuNPcs and AgAuNPCS-CUR also exhibited excellent cytocompatibility to human keratinocyte and erythrocyte cells. Hence, from the overall findings, we concluded that our biogenically synthesized AgAuNPCS alloy nanoparticle has, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant activity as well as potential for targeted therapy (in cancer) via controlled CUR delivery in biomedical applications. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.