Gold nanoparticles as multifactorial modulators of pancreatic cancer cell behavior

Authors

  • Malgorzata Lasota 1 Center for Biomedicine and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-531 Krakow, Poland; 2 Student Scientific Group of Targeted Therapy and Supramolecular Systems, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-531 Krakow, Poland;
  • Adam Kozik Student Scientific Group of Targeted Therapy and Supramolecular Systems, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-531 Krakow, Poland
  • Milena Serwatka Student Scientific Group of Targeted Therapy and Supramolecular Systems, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-531 Krakow, Poland
  • Anna Wiśniewska Chair of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-531 Krakow, Poland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56782/pps.974

Keywords:

gold nanoparticles, pancreatic cancer, drug delivery systems

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged as promising multifunctional agents in cancer therapy due to their unique physicochemical properties and intrinsic biological activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of 5 nm AuNPs on pancreatic cancer cell lines (PANC-1 and BxPC-3) and non-malignant pancreatic cells (HPDE6c7), focusing on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and selected signaling pathways. AuNPs induced a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability and promoted apoptosis in both cancer cell lines, with a more pronounced effect observed in PANC-1 cells. Furthermore, AuNP treatment significantly inhibited cell migration and invasion, indicating suppression of metastatic potential. On the contrary, non-malignant pancreatic cells exhibited reduced sensitivity, although measurable cytotoxic effects were still observed. Interestingly, despite strong phenotypic changes, AuNPs did not significantly alter AKT or ERK1/2 phosphorylation, suggesting that their anticancer activity is not mediated by classical EGFR-dependent signaling pathways. Instead, the observed effects are likely driven by multifactorial mechanisms, including oxidative stress, cytoskeletal remodeling, and alterations in intracellular trafficking. In general, these findings highlight AuNPs as active modulators of cancer cell behavior and support their potential as a new therapeutic platform in pancreatic cancer. However, further optimization is required to improve selectivity and define their safety profile.

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Published

2026-08-01

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Vol. 24 No. 3 (2026)

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Copyright (c) 2026 Malgorzata Lasota, Adam Kozik, Milena Serwatka, Anna Wiśniewska

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Gold nanoparticles as multifactorial modulators of pancreatic cancer cell behavior. (2026). Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 24(3), 18-27. https://doi.org/10.56782/pps.974
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