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.