Therapeutic potential of gold nanoparticles in cancer therapy: a comparative insight into synthesis overview and cellular mechanisms

Cancer has become a global health issue that demands transformative and advanced therapeutic approaches. Recent advancements in cancer research and therapeutics have shown that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) possess potential anticancer, apoptotic, phagocytic, and immune modulation properties. Their unique physicochemical properties at the nanoscale make AuNPs effective candidate in various cancer therapeutics. This review uniquely highlights recent insights into the molecular mechanisms of AuNP-induced cancer cell death, cell cycle arrest, and immune modulation with multidimensional approach, an area often overlooked in earlier reviews. Also, it examines recent studies, exploring how AuNPs trigger their cancer-fighting properties such as cell death initiation, DNA destruction, and immune system modulation. AuNPs initiate cell death by targeting mitochondrial enzymes along with producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activating caspase proteins. AuNPs harm DNA, leading to cell cycle arrest, which in turn trigger apoptosis (programmed cell death) or other forms of cell death. Research study claims that AuNPs activate macrophages and regulate cytokine release which helps suppress tumor growth and metastasis. Moreover, this review compares chemical and green synthesis approaches, emphasizing green synthesis for its enhanced biocompatibility and alignment with targeted cancer therapy. Green synthesis methods are not only devoid of toxic chemicals but also superior in controlling particle size, shape, and surface functionality. Consequently, these green-synthesized AuNPs have been utilized in cancer research with improved therapeutic efficacy and enhanced cancer-targeting capabilities.