Utilizing gold nanoparticles for renoprotection in cancer treatment

Cisplatin (CPt) remains a cornerstone treatment for bladder cancer; however, its use is often limited by severe nephrotoxicity, excluding many patients with advanced disease from receiving optimal care. To address this challenge, we developed gold nanoparticles (GNPs) conjugated with CPt, engineered to minimize renal toxicity while retaining the drug’s anticancer potency. The safety and therapeutic impact of CPt-GNPs were evaluated in a bladder tumor-bearing mouse model. A single high-dose administration of CPt-GNPs resulted in tumor growth suppression and prevention of CPt-induced mortality in a mouse model of bladder cancer. Notably, CPt-GNPs did not induce kidney necrosis or weight loss, in contrast to free CPt. These findings suggest that CPt-conjugated GNPs offer a dual benefit of effective tumor control and renal protection, potentially expanding the pool of patients eligible for CPt-based therapies.