Radiosensitizing effect of gold nanoparticle loaded with small interfering RNA-SP1 on lung cancer

Radioresistance is a major challenge that largely limits the efficacy of radiotherapy in lung cancer. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are emerging as novel radiosensitizers for cancer patients. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the radiosensitizing effect and mechanism of AuNPs loaded with small interfering RNA (siRNA)-SP1 (AuNPs-si-SP1) on lung cancer. AuNPs-si-SP1 was prepared by the noncovalent binding between AuNPs and siRNA-SP1. The adsorption capacity of AuNPs to siRNA-SP1 was analyzed by gel electrophoresis. The cell uptake of AuNPs-si-SP1 was observed under a laser confocal microscopy. Silencing efficacy of AuNPs-si-SP1 was validated by RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis. Cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay, radiosensitization by plate colony formation assay, cell apoptosis and cell cycle by flow cytometry, and DNA double strand breaks by immunofluorescence in the presence or absence of AuNPs-si-SP1 or GZMB. The downstream mechanism of SP1 was predicted by bioinformatics analysis, followed by verification by Western blot analysis. Subcutaneous tumorigenesis in nude mice was established to verify the radiosensitization of AuNPs-si-SP1 and GZMB in vivo. AuNPs-si-SP1 effectively absorbed SP1 siRNA and was highly internalized by A549 cells to reduce SP1 protein expression. AuNPs-si-SP1 or GZMB overexpression promoted cells to G2/M phase, DNA double strand breaks, and enhanced radiosensitivity. SP1 could repress GZMB expression in lung cancer cells. In vivo experiments manifested that AuNPs-si-SP1 could inhibit the growth of solid tumor in nude mice to achieve radiosensitization by inhibiting SP1 to upregulate GZMB. AuNPs-si-SP1 might increase the radiosensitivity of lung cancer by inhibiting SP1 to upregulate GZMB.