Evaluation of Different Oxidative Stress Parameters and Apoptosis in Human Cervical Cancer Cells Exposed to Rod and Spherical Shaped Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Investigating the Anticancer Potential of Biochanin A in KB Oral Cancer Cells Through the NFκB Pathway

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignancy primarily affecting squamous cells. Its development is linked to multiple risk factors, such as alcohol and tobacco consumption, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection. Biochanin A (BCA), a phytoestrogen extracted from red clover, has been extensively researched for its therapeutic properties. It spans antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, neuroprotection, cardioprotection, and anticancer potential in different bodily systems. However, its impact on oral cancer remains unexplored. Therefore, this investigation aims to assess the potential anticancer effects of BCA, specifically on KB oral cancer cells. This study utilized KB cells to evaluate the impact of BCA on various cellular parameters, including cell viability, apoptosis, intracellular ROS production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cell migration. BCA treatment induced several notable effects on KB cells, including reduced cell viability, altered morphology suggestive of apoptosis, heightened oxidative stress, and alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, BCA treatment demonstrated an inhibitory effect on cell migration. The study further investigated the impact of BCA on antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation, revealing decreased antioxidant enzyme activities and increased lipid peroxidation across different BCA concentrations (IC50 and IC90). Immunocytochemistry and qRT-PCR analyses unveiled that BCA treatment at varying doses (IC50 and IC90) downregulated the expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) subunits p50 and p65, pivotal players in cancer progression. In summary, this study sheds light on the promising potential of BCA as an anticancer therapeutic agent for treating oral cancer. Its demonstrated ability to induce apoptosis, perturb cellular functions, and modulate gene expression within cancer cells underscores its significance. Nonetheless, further research, particularly following animal studies, is imperative to comprehensively grasp the breadth of BCA's effects and its viability for clinical applications.

ZnO nanoparticles stimulate oxidative stress to induce apoptosis of B16F10 melanoma cells:In vitroandin vivostudies

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancers. However, there remain many limitations in the current clinical treatments of it. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been considered to be a promising antitumor drug due to their excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability and biofunctionality. In this study, we prepared spherical ZnO NPs with an average diameter of less than 10 nm by a simple chemical method. According to thein vitrocytotoxicity assay, ZnO NPs in a certain concentration range (20-35μg ml^-1) showed significant cytotoxicity to B16F10 melanoma cells, while having little effect on the viability of 3T3L1 fibroblasts. When cultured with B16F10 melanoma cells, ZnO NPs induced the generation of reactive oxygen and mitochondrial superoxide through the release of Zn²⁺, leading to oxidative stress in the cells, further reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential and decreasing the number of mitochondrial cristae. Furthermore, damaged mitochondria induced the release of apoptosis factors to promote cell apoptosis. FITC-Annexin V/propidium iodide double staining assay was used to analyze different apoptosis stages of B16F10 cells induced by ZnO NPs. A polymer hydrogel (Gel-F127-ZnO NPs) with Pluronic F127 as the carrier of ZnO NPs was fabricated for evaluating the antitumor effect of ZnO NPsin vivo. Thein vivoexperiment indicated that the tumor recurrence was significantly inhibited in tumor-bearing mice after treated with Gel-F127-ZnO NPs. Conclusively, ZnO NPs showed a strong antitumor effect bothin vitroandin vivo.

Exposure to low dose ZnO nanoparticles induces hyperproliferation and malignant transformation through activating the CXCR2/NF-κB/STAT3/ERK and AKT pathways in colonic mucosal cells

As ZnO nanoparticles have been applied in many fields, their biological risks on human health, of course, are worthy of our attention. Whether ZnO NPs have the risk and how colonic cells respond to the invaded ZnO NPs are still unknown. Herein, we evaluated the biological effects of ZnO NPs on colonic mucosal cells by in vitro and in vivo methods. IMCE cells, with APC mutation but phenotypically normal, demonstrated hyperproliferation through activating the CXCR2/NF-κB/STAT3/ERK and AKT pathways when exposed to ZnO NPs for 24 h. Long-term exposure of ZnO NPs resulted in the malignant transformation of IMCE cells, showing the morphological changes, anchorage-independent cell growth ability. Importantly, IMCE cells exposed to ZnO NPs subcutaneously grew and induced tumorigenesis in nude mice. In conclusion, exposure of ZnO NPs could induce malignant transformation of colonic mucosal cells through the CXCR2/NF-κB/STAT3/ERK and AKT pathways. We suggest that it was necessary to consider using the precautionary principle for gastrointestinal contact nanomaterials.

The Rational Design and Biological Mechanisms of Nanoradiosensitizers

Radiotherapy (RT) has been widely used for cancer treatment. However, the intrinsic drawbacks of RT, such as radiotoxicity in normal tissues and tumor radioresistance, promoted the development of radiosensitizers. To date, various kinds of nanoparticles have been found to act as radiosensitizers in cancer radiotherapy. This review focuses on the current state of nanoradiosensitizers, especially the related biological mechanisms, and the key design strategies for generating nanoradiosensitizers. The regulation of oxidative stress, DNA damage, the cell cycle, autophagy and apoptosis by nanoradiosensitizers in vitro and in vivo is highlighted, which may guide the rational design of therapeutics for tumor radiosensitization.

Development of nanotechnology for advancement and application in wound healing: a review

Wound healing is a series of different dynamic and complex phenomena. Many studies have been carried out based on the type and severity of wounds. However, to recover wounds faster there are no suitable drugs available, which are highly stable, less expensive as well as has no side effects. Nanomaterials have been proven to be the most promising agent for faster wound healing among all the other wound healing materials. This review briefly discusses the recent developments of wound healing by nanotechnology, their applicability and advantages. Nanomaterials have unique physicochemical, optical, and biological properties. Some of them can be directly applied for wound healing or some of them can be incorporated into scaffolds to create hydrogel matrix or nanocomposites, which promote wound healing through their antimicrobial, as well as selective anti- and pro-inflammatory, and proangiogenic properties. Owing to their high surface area to volume ratio, nanomaterials have not only been used for drug delivery vectors but also can affect wound healing by influencing collagen deposition and realignment and provide approaches for skin tissue regeneration.

Ga Ion-Enhanced and Particle Shape-Dependent Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species in X-ray-Irradiated Composites

The reported results test the effects of the collective behavior hypothesized to contribute to the production of more reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro and result in an enhanced radiosensitization. The role of particle shape in composites with gallium oxyhydroxide (GaOOH) particles and Matrigel is studied. Particles of two different shapes are embedded into the gel to understand only the materials effect on the generation of ROS rather than cell penetrating variations. The paper reports materials characterization by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The stability of the particles within the composite is assessed by quantification of leached metal using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The amount of ROS in each construct under variable radiation conditions is quantified in the presence and absence of PC12 cells seeded on top of the composites. The viability of cells is also recorded under different in vitro conditions. The collective materials characterization and the results from the bioassays are used to explain the role of anisotropy on the radiosensitization of nanostructures containing Ga. The presence of Ga ions in composites can have a radiosensitizing effect, and the amount of the available Ga³⁺ determines the magnitude of the radiosensitization. The shape of the particles determines the stability in aqueous solutions and release of Ga³⁺ that triggers ROS production. The concentration and shape of Ga-containing materials can be combined to generate an additive effect by increasing the amount of available free metal ions in solution. The studies with GaOOH containing composites enable one to explore the role of key parameters that lead to an increased efficiency of radiation treatments.