S. Zaghian, T. Tohidi Moghadam, M. Behmanesh,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (9-2019)
Abstract
The unique physicochemical properties of nanoscale plasmonic materials have attracted considerable attention in the fabrication of hybrid nano-bio structures because of their promising applications in biosensing, imaging, and controlled-release drug delivery. The purpose of this study was the synthesis of functionalized gold nanorods (GNRs) to both reduce the toxicity and increase the biocompatibility for further applications such as the design of a therapeutic nanocarrier for nucleic acid delivery to cancerous cells. In this study, GNRs were prepared by seed-mediated method and their surface was modified by polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) polymer. Then, peptide-functionalized GNRs was fabricated via ligand exchange method through the Au-S bond. The CTAB-GNRs and functionalized nanostructures were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and zeta potential measurement. Finally, the cytotoxicity effects of functionalized GNRs on Hela cells were studied by MTT assay. The optimal concentration of PSS and peptide, which did not cause any aggregation and morphological perturbations of the nanostructure were obtained 50μM and 1mM respectively. The survival percentage of treated Hela cells significantly increased by surface modification of GNRs with PSS and functionalization with peptide compared to CTAB-GNRs. While LC50 of functionalized GNRs was calculated 50nM, treated cells with the same concentrations of CTABGNRs survived less than 20%. Functionalization of GNRs increases its biocompatibility and improves applications of this nanostructure as a therapeutic carrier in cancerous cells.
Rezvaneh Vahedian Sadeghi, Masoud Parsania, Majid Sadeghizadeh, Setareh Haghighat, Seyedeh Sahar Mortazavi Farsani,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (3-2022)
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women. In recent years, attention has increased to natural products such as curcumin with anti-cancer potential as a therapeutic supplement. However, due to its poor solubility, its clinical use is limited. In this regard, in this study, to improve clinical parameters, the effects of nanocurcumin on the angiogenesis inhibition of cervical cancer were investigated and compared with free curcumin.
Materials and Methods: MTT method was used to evaluate the proliferation of the HeLa cell line with free curcumin and nanocurcumin at different doses and time intervals and the rate of apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. Then, the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) gene in HeLa cells was measured by Real-Time PCR and Western blotting, respectively.
Results: According to IC50 for 48 hours in the HeLa cell line, which was 15 μM/ml and 50 μM/ml for nanocurcumin and free curcumin, respectively, the nanocurcumin showed a greater lethal effect. VEGF-A gene expression (p <0.0001) and protein level (p <0.01) were significantly lower following nano-curcumin treatment than free curcumin.
Conclusion: Nanocarrier increased the solubility and further inhibited the proliferation of cervical cancer HeLa cells and was three times more effective than curcumin in inhibiting angiogenesis at the same concentration. Therefore, nanocurcumin can be a good option for drug supplementation along with routine cervical cancer treatment.
Keywords: Cervical cancer, Nanocurcumin, HeLa cell, VEGF-A.