Gold Nanocomplex Strongly Modulates the PI3K/Akt Pathway and Other Pathways in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line

Conjugating drugs with gold nanoparticles (GNP) is a key strategy in cancer therapy. Herein, the potential inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, and other pathways of the MCF-7 cell-line, was investigated upon treatment with gold nanorods (GNR) conjugated with a PI3K inhibitor drug. The results revealed that the coupling of GNR with the drug drastically modulated the expression of PI3K alpha at the gene and protein levels compared to the drug or GNR alone. The PI3K alpha pathway is involved in tumor progression and development through the mediation of different mechanisms such as apoptosis, proliferation, and DNA damage. Treatment with the nanocomplex significantly affected the gene expression of several transcription factors responsible for cell growth and proliferation, apoptotic pathways, and cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, the gene expression of different regulatory proteins involved in cancer progression and immune responses were significantly modified upon treatment with the nanocomplex compared to the free drug or GNR alone.