RESUMO
AIM: The main aim of this article is to explain the apoptosis mechanisms of cancer cells specifically triggered by gold nanorods (GNRs). MATERIALS & METHODS: GNRs were synthesized and optimized, the lysosome damage, cathepsin D, mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase-9, cleaved caspase-9, caspase-3 and intracellular GNRs location related to apoptosis was systematically evaluated. RESULTS: GNRs specifically induce cancer cell apoptosis while posing a negligible impact on normal cells. After incubation with GNRs, the lysosomal permeability in cancer cells as indicated by cathepsin D was markedly higher than that in normal cells and resulted in an obvious decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. Western blot analysis further confirmed that apoptosis occurred through caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation following mitochondrial damage. Transmission electron microscope images showed that GNRs did not appear in most of the damaged mitochondria but mainly accumulated in lysosomes. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that GNR-induced apoptosis specifically in cancer cells by affecting lysosomes and mitochondria.