The apoptotic effect of Ferulic acid-synthesized gold nanoparticles against human epidermoid carcinoma (A431) cells via activation of caspase-3 pathway

In the present study, ferulic acid (fa), a polyphenol, was employed to prepare stable gold nanoparticles. It acted as a reducing agent when mixed with hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (III) hydrate at ambient temperature. Subsequently, fa also turned as a stabilizing agent and yielded spherical gold nanoparticles (fa-AuNPs). The synthesized gold nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized using UV/Visible spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, High resolution transmission electron microscopy, Dynamic light scattering and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy studies. Then, the synthesized fa-AuNPs were tested in human skin cancer cells (A431) and normal kertotinocytes (HaCaT cells). The fa-AuNPs produced cytotoxicity in A431 cells in a dose and timedependent manner. The angiogenetic efficacy of the fa-AuNPs was substantiated by the results of CAM assay. The programmed cell death occurred via apoptosis as indicated by the sub G1 population. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species and caspase-3 activity resulted in reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. Hence, this study corroborated that fa-AuNPs successfully stimulated apoptosis in A431 cells through mitochondria based pathways and thus may be considered as a potential agent to treat skin cancer.