Biomolecules from Snail mucus (Helix aspersa) conjugate Gold
nanoparticles, exhibiting potential wound healing and anti-inflammatory
activity
Abstract
In this work, for the first time, snail slime from garden snails “Helix
Aspersa Müller”, has been used to induce the formation of eco-friendly
gold nanoparticles (AuNPs-SS), suitable for biomedical applications. An
AuNPs-SS comprehensive investigation was performed observing AuNPs with
an average particle size of 14±6 nm, stabilized by a slime snail-based
organic layer. Indeed, as recognised in high-resolution MALDI-MS
analyses, and corroborated by FESEM, UV-Vis, ATR-FTIR and XPS results,
it was possible to assess the main presence of peptides and amino acids
as main components of the slime, that, combined with the AuNPs confers
them interesting properties. More specifically, we tested, in vitro, the
AuNPs-SS safety in human keratinocytes and their potential effect on
wound healing as well as their anti-inflammatory properties in Murine
Macrophages. Moreover, the AuNPs-SS treatment resulted in a significant
increase of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR),
essential for keratinocyte adhesion, spreading and migration, together
with the reduction of LPS-induced IL1-β and IL-6 cytokine levels, and
completely abrogated the synthesis of the inducible nitric oxide
synthase (iNOS).