Synthesis and evaluation of the cytotoxic and anti-proliferative properties of ZnO quantum dots against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.

Synthesis and evaluation of the cytotoxic and anti-proliferative properties of ZnO quantum dots against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2017 Dec 01;81:551-560 Authors: A R, Jagadeesan S, Cho YJ, Lim JH, Choi KH Abstract Current trends in therapeutic research are the application of nanomaterial carriers for cancer therapy. One such molecule, ZnO, originally used in diagnosis and as a drug carrier, is gaining importance for its biological properties. Here, we report for the first time, the scope of ZnO QDs for enhanced cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and metastatic MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Unlike other ZnO nanostructures, ZnO QDs are dispersed and small sized (8-10nm) which is believed to greatly increase the cellular uptake. Furthermore, the acidic tumor microenvironment attracts ZnO QDs enhancing targeted therapy while leaving normal cells less affected. Results from MTT assay demonstrated that ZnO QDs induced cytotoxicity to MCF-7 and metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells at very low concentrations (10 and 15μg/ml) as compared to other reported ZnO nanostructures. HEK-293 cells showed less toxicity at these concentrations. Confocal microscope images from DAPI staining and TUNEL assay demonstrated that ZnO QDs induced nuclear fragmentation and apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. FACS results suggested ZnO QDs treatment induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase in these c...
Source: Appl Human Sci - Category: Physiology Authors: Tags: Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl Source Type: research