Gold clusters (AuCs), composition and method for treatment of liver cirrhosis

A method for treating liver cirrhosis in a subject, wherein the method comprises:

• administering a composition to the subject with liver cirrhosis;
• wherein the composition comprises a ligand-bound gold cluster as a therapeutically active ingredient;
• and
• a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient;
• wherein the ligand-bound gold cluster comprises:
• a gold core;
• and
• a ligand bound to the gold core;
• wherein the gold core has a diameter in the range of 0.5-3 nm;
• and
• wherein the ligand is selected from the group consisting of L-cysteine, N-isobutyryl-L-cysteine (L-NIBC), and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (L-NAC), and wherein theD-cysteine and its derivatives are selected from the group consisting of D-cysteine, N-isobutyryl-D-cysteine (D-NIBC), N-acetyl-D-cysteine (D-NAC), cysteine-containing oligopeptides and their derivatives, and other thiol-containing compounds.