Gold nanoparticles (AuNPS) cross the blood brain barrier and induce cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma cells SH-SY5Y: an in vivo and in vitro study

Drugs delivery into the brain across the blood brain barrier has always remained a challenging task for neuroscientists. The central nervous system is mainly protected by the blood brain barrier (BBB), which acts as a firewall to defend the brain versus toxins, bacteria and viruses. In addition, this barrier regulates the transport of endogenous compounds by controlling their selective and specific uptake, efflux and metabolism. Nanotechnology is now providing new prospective in the treatment of neurological cancer, neurovascular disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Because of their unique properties, nanoparticles have generated a great deal of interest for their potential use in therapeutics drug delivery, in particular polymeric nanoparticles, like poly-ε-caprolacton nanoparticles (PCL-NP), for their biocompatibility, lipophilicity, cost-effectiveness and capability to support passive uptake processes. This study aims to explore whether gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are able to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) and more importantly whether they have cytotoxic effects after in vivo and in vitro uptake. Our data suggest that AuNPs cross the BBB and have particular imaging properties since they cluster into the cells changing the emission spectrum from green to red. Noteworthy AuNPs are cytotoxic so they are an attractive platform for neurological diseases if specifically addressed toward target cells.