The current investigation introduces an advanced and effective active targeted tumour therapeutic nanomedicine composed of pegylated gold nanoparticles (PEG-GNPs) conjugated with Cetuximab (Cet) that induced reactive oxygen species (ROSs) mediating apoptosis pathway as effective strategies for colorectal cancer treatment.

The GNPs synthesized, stabilized by polyethylene glycol (PEG), functionalized, and covalently conjugated with Cetuximab. The physicochemical properties of engineered nanomedicine (GNPs-PEG-Cet) were characterized by UV-vis spectrum. Then, its biological impacts, including cell viability, apoptosis, and ROS production, were evaluated in the colorectal cancer cell line.

The engineered nanomedicine was found to effectively induced apoptosis in SW-480 cells and resulted in a significant reduction in cancer cells viability. From the flow cytometry results, this nanoscale showed a significant apoptotic effect on cells. In addition, the maximum production of ROS was obtained after the treatment of cells with an IC50 dose of GNPs-PEG-Cet.

We introduced a nanoformulation of Cetuximab with a high apoptosis effect on colorectal cancer cells compared to the free Cetuximab.