Involvement of Bcl-2 Activation and G1 Cell Cycle Arrest in Colon Cancer Cells Induced by Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Synthesized by Microwave-Assisted Hybrid Approach

Viridibacillus culture derived silver nanoparticles exert potent anticancer action in 2D and 3D models of lung cancer via mitochondrial depolarization-mediated apoptosis

Lung cancer is one of the most commonly occurring cancer types that accounts for almost 2 million cases per year. Its resistance to anticancer drugs, failure of new molecules in clinical trials, severe side-effects of current treatments, and its recurrence limit the success of anticancer therapies. Nanotherapeutic agents offer several advantages over conventional anticancer therapies, including improved retention in tumors, specificity, and anticancer effects at lower concentrations, hence reducing the side-effects. Here, we have explored the anticancer activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized in Viridibacillus sp. enriched culture medium for the first time. Such green nanoparticles, synthesized by biological systems, are superior to chemically synthesized ones in terms of their environmental footprint and production cost, and have one crucial advantage of excellent stability owing to their biological corona. To assess anticancer activity of these nanoparticles, we used conventional 2D cultured A549 cells as well as 3D spheroids of A549 cells. In both models of lung cancer, our silver nanoparticles diminished cell proliferation, arrested DNA synthesis, and showed a dose dependent cytotoxic effect. The nanoparticles damaged the DNA and mitochondrial structures in both A549 cells and A549 spheroids, leading to mitochondrial depolarization and increased cell permeability. Low lethal median doses (LD50) for 2D cultured A549 cells (1 μg/ml) and for A549 spheroids (13 μg/ml) suggest that our nanoparticles are potent anticancer agents. We also developed in vitro tumor progression model and in vitro tumor size model using 3D spheroids to test anticancer potential of our nanoparticles which otherwise would require longer experimental duration along with large number of animals and trained personnel. In these models, our nanoparticles showed strong dose dependent anticancer activity. In case of in vitro tumor progression model, the A549 cells failed to form tight spheroidal mass and showed increased dead cell fraction since day 1 as compared to control. On the other hand, in case of in vitro tumor size model, the 4 and 8 μg/ml nanoparticle treatment led to reduction in spheroid size from 615 ± 53 μm to 440 ± 45 μm and 612 ± 44 μm to 368 ± 62 μm respectively, within the time span of 3 days post treatment. We believe that use of such novel experimental models offers excellent and fast alternative to in vivo studies, and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that gives proof-of-concept for use of such novel in vitro cancer models to test anticancer agents such as Viridibacilli culture derived silver nanoparticles. Based on our results, we propose that these nanoparticles offer an interesting alternative for anticancer therapies, especially if they can be combined with classical anticancer drugs.

Nickel-doped vanadium pentoxide (Ni@V2O5) nanocomposite induces apoptosis targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in skin cancer: An in vitro and in vivo study

In the present study, the vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nickel-doped vanadium pentoxide (Ni@V2O5) was prepared and determined for in vitro anticancer activity. The structural characterization of the prepared V2O5 and Ni@V2O5 was determined using diverse morphological and spectroscopic analyses. The DRS-UV analysis displayed the absorbance at 215 nm for V2O5 and 331 nm for Ni@V2O5 as the primary validation of the synthesis of V2O5 and Ni@V2O5. The EDS spectra exhibited the presence of 30% of O, 69% of V, and 1% of Ni and the EDS mapping showed the constant dispersion. The FE-SEM and FE-TEM analysis showed the V2O5 nanoparticles are rectangle-shaped and nanocomposites have excellent interfaces between nickel and V2O5. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) investigation of Ni@V2O5 nanocomposite endorses the occurrence of elements V, O, and Ni. The in vitro MTT assay clearly showed that the V2O5 and Ni@V2O5 have significantly inhibited the proliferation of B16F10 skin cancer cells. In addition, the nanocomposite produces the endogenous reactive oxygen species in the mitochondria, causes the mitochondrial membrane and nuclear damage, and consequently induces apoptosis by caspase 9/3 enzymatic activity in skin cancer cells. Also, the western blot analysis showed that the nanocomposite suppresses the oncogenic marker proteins such as PI3K, Akt, and mTOR in the skin cancer cells. Together, the results showed that Ni@V2O5 can be used as an auspicious anticancer agent against skin cancer.

The role of quercetin in the formation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles for nanomedical applications

The current work aimed to synthesize and characterize titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) using quercetin (QE) and evaluate their biological activities, i.e., anti-hemolytic, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxicity effects. The crystallographic phase and morphology of biosynthesized QE-TiO₂NPs were characterized by XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) and TEM/FE-SEM (Transmission/Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy) micrographs. Functional groups involved in the synthesis process were determined by FTIR spectroscopy (Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy). Based on the characterization results, selected QE-TiO₂NPs showed a rutile phase, spherical shape, and a size range of 7.3-39 nm. The QE-TiO₂NPs did not show a hemolytic effect. They indicated 95.3% red blood cells (RBCs) membrane stabilization activity and 82.6% inhibition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation, similar to a standard drug, which proved their anti-inflammatory effects. The attained results from cytotoxicity studies revealed the toxic effects of QE-TiO₂NPs with IC50 values below 100 and 50 μg/mL for human breast cancer cells of MCF-7 and melanoma cancer cells of A375, respectively. These NPs did not significantly affect normal skin fibroblast cells up to 50 μg/mL and only showed a 16% inhibition rate on the cell viability at 100 μg/mL. These NPs also induced excessive ROS generation. This work established the blood/biocompatibility and excellent nanomedical applications of biosynthesized QE-TiO₂NPs.

The advance anticancer role of polymeric core-shell ZnO nanoparticles containing oxaliplatin in colorectal cancer

We evaluated the activity of core-shell ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs@polymer shell) containing Oxaliplatin via polymerization through in vitro studies and in vivo mouse models of colorectal cancer. ZnO NPs were synthesized in situ when the polymerization step was completed by co-precipitation. Gadolinium coordinated-ZnONPs@polymer shell (ZnO-Gd NPs@polymer shell) was synthesized by exploiting Gd's oxophilicity (III). The biophysical properties of the NPs were studied using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), field emission electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and z-potential. (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT) was used to determine the antiproliferative activity of ZnO-Gd-OXA. Moreover, a xenograft mouse model of colon cancer was exerted to survey its antitumor activity and effect on tumor growth. In the following, the model was also evaluated by histological staining (H-E; Hematoxylin & Eosin and trichrome staining) and gene expression analyses through the application of RT-PCR/ELISA, which included biochemical evaluation (MDA, thiols, SOD, CAT). The formation of ZnO NPs, which contained a crystallite size of 16.8 nm, was confirmed by the outcomes of the PXRD analysis. The Plate-like morphology and presence of Pt were obtained in EDX outcomes. TEM analysis displayed the attained ZnO NPs in a spherical shape and a diameter of 33 ± 8.5 nm, while the hydrodynamic sizes indicated that the particles were highly aggregated. The biological results demonstrated that ZnO-Gd-OXA inhibited tumor growth by inducing reactive oxygen species and inhibiting fibrosis, warranting further research on this novel colorectal cancer treatment agent.

Protective effects of lycopene on TiO2 nanoparticle-induced damage in the liver of mice

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO₂ ) is one of the most widely used and produced nanomaterials. Studies have demonstrated that nano-TiO₂ could induce hepatotoxicity through oxidative stress, and lycopene has strong antioxidant capacity. The present study aimed to explore if lycopene protects the liver of mice from nano-TiO₂ damage. Ninety-six ICR mice were randomly divided into eight groups. They were control group, nano-TiO₂ -treated group (50 mg/kg BW), lycopene-treated groups (5, 20, and 40 mg/kg BW), and 50 mg/kg BW nano-TiO₂ - and lycopene-co-treated groups (nano-TiO₂  + 5 mg/kg BW of lycopene, nano-TiO₂  + 20 mg/kg BW of lycopene, nano-TiO₂  + 40 mg/kg BW of lycopene). After treated by gavage for 30 days, the histopathology of the liver was observed. Liver function was evaluated using changes in serum biochemical indicators of the liver (AST, ALT, ALP); and the level of ROS was indirectly reflected by the level of SOD, GSH-Px, MDA, GSH, and T-AOC. TUNEL assay was performed to examine the apoptosis of hepatocytes. Proteins of p53, cleaved-caspase 9, cleaved-caspase 3, Bcl-2, and Bax as well as p38 were detected. Results showed that lycopene alleviated the liver pathological damage and reduced the injury to liver function induced by nano-TiO₂ , as well as decreased nano-TiO₂ -induced ROS. Meanwhile, lycopene mitigated apoptosis resulting from nano-TiO₂ , accompanied by the reversed expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Furthermore, lycopene significantly reversed the upregulation of p-p38 induced by nano-TiO₂ . In conclusion, this study demonstrated that nano-TiO₂ resulted in hepatocyte apoptosis through ROS/ROS-p38 MAPK pathway and led to liver function injury. Lycopene protected mice liver against the hepatotoxicity of nano-TiO₂ through antioxidant property.

Dental implant material related changes in molecular signatures in peri-implantitis - A systematic review and integrative analysis of omics in-vitro studies

OBJECTIVE

Since peri-implantitis differs clinically and histopathologically from periodontitis, implant wear debris is considered to play a role in the destructive processes. This work aims to systematically review if titanium particles affect oral-related cells through changes in molecular signatures (e.g., transcriptome, proteome, epigenome), thereby promoting peri-implantitis.

METHODS

Leveraging three literature databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane) a systematic search based on a priori defined PICOs was conducted: '-omics' studies examining titanium exposure in oral-related cells. After risk of bias assessments, lists of differentially expressed genes, proteins, and results of functional enrichment analyses were compiled. The significance of overlapping genes across multiple studies was assessed via Monte Carlo simulation and their ranking was verified using rank aggregation.

RESULTS

Out of 2104 screened articles we found 12 eligible publications. A significant overlap of gene expression in oral-related cells exposed to titanium particles was found in four studies. Furthermore, changes in biological processes like immune/inflammatory or stress response as well as toll-like receptor (TLR) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways were linked to titanium in transcriptome and proteome studies. Epigenetic changes caused by titanium were detected but inconsistent.

CONCLUSION

An influence of titanium implant wear debris on the development and progression of peri-implantitis is plausible but needs to be proven in further studies. Limitations arise from small sample sizes of included studies and insufficient publication of re-analyzable data.

Eco-Friendly Preparation of Silver Nanoparticles and Their Antiproliferative and Apoptosis-Inducing Ability against Lung Cancer

In the present study, the anti-proliferative and apoptotic potential of Tabebuia roseo-alba in lung cancer was assessed. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of T. roseo-alba were synthesized using an ethanolic extract and characterized by adopting various parameters. Herein, the eco-friendly, cost-effective, and green synthesis of AgNPs was evaluated using an ethanolic extract of T. roseo-alba. The as-synthesized AgNPs were then characterized using various characterization techniques, such as UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The AgNPs are crystalline, spherical, and highly stable AgNPs of varying sizes in the range of 5-20 nm. The anticancer activity of the ethanolic extract of T. roseo-alba and its AgNPs was determined using an MTT assay. The results indicated that, although both samples showed prominent anti-proliferative activity on lung cancer cell lines, the AgNPs of T. roseo-alba were found to be more potent than the ethanolic extract. Further, apoptosis induction ability was evaluated by FITC Annexin V and PI staining, the results of which demonstrated the efficiency of the ethanolic extract of T. roseo-alba and its AgNPs in causing oxidative stress and subsequent cellular death. This was subsequently further confirmed by measuring the mitochondrial membrane potential after staining the cells with JC1. The apoptotic mode of cell death was further confirmed by DNA fragmentation and caspase assays using Western blot analysis.

From Toxicity to Selectivity: Coculture of the Fluorescent Tumor and Non-Tumor Lung Cells and High-Throughput Screening of Anticancer Compounds

For the search of anticancer compounds in modern large chemical libraries, new approaches are of great importance. Cocultivation of the cells of tumor and non-tumor etiology may reveal specific action of chemicals on cancer cells and also take into account some effects of the tumor cell's microenvironment. The fluorescent cell cocultivation test (FCCT) has been developed for screening of substances that are selectively cytotoxic on cancerous cells. It is based on the mixed culture of lung carcinoma cells A549'_EGFP and noncancerous fibroblasts of lung VA13_Kat, expressing different fluorescent proteins. Analysis of the cells was performed with the high-resolution scanner to increase the detection rate. The combination of cocultivation of cells with scanning of fluorescence reduces the experimental protocol to three steps: cells seeding, addition of the substance, and signal detection. The FCCT analysis does not disturb the cells and is compatible with other cell-targeted assays. The suggested method has been adapted for a high-throughput format and applied for screening of 2,491 compounds. Three compounds were revealed to be reproducibly selective in the FCCT although they were invisible in cytotoxicity tests in individual lines. Six structurally diverse indole, coumarin, sulfonylthiazol, and rifampicin derivatives were found and confirmed with an independent assay (MTT) to be selectively cytotoxic to cancer cells in the studied model.

Therapeutic potential of biogenic titanium dioxide nanoparticles: a review on mechanistic approaches

Biogenic titanium dioxide nanoparticles have unique size, shape and biochemical functional corona that embellish them with the potential to perform therapeutic actions such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, larvicidal and photocatalysis by adopting various mechanistic or physiological approaches at the molecular level. We have provided a detailed overview of some of these physiological mechanisms, including disruption of the electron transport chain, DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial damage, induction of apoptosis, disorganization of the plasma membrane, inhibition of ATP synthase activity, suspension of cellular signaling pathways and inhibition of enzymatic activity. The biogenic synthesis of customized titanium dioxide nanoparticles has future application potentials to do breakthroughs in the pharmaceutical sectors to advance precision medicine and to better explain the disease prognosis and treatment strategies.

Fabrication of methotrexate-loaded gold nanoconjugates and its enhanced anticancer activity in breast cancer

Methotrexate (MTX) is known antagonist of folic acid and widely used as an anti-cancer drug. The folate receptor (FR) and reduced folate carrier are mostly responsible for internalization of methotrexate in tumor cells. Mutation in reduced folate carrier (RFC) leads to resistance against MTX in various tumor cell lines including MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. To overcome the resistance of MTX, folate receptor targeted nanoparticles have been commonly used for targeting breast tumors. The aim of the study is to determine the ability of methotrexate gold nanoparticles (MTX-GNPs) in the induction of apoptosis and to explore the molecular changes at genomics and proteomics level. Different assays like cell viability assay, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis, real-time PCR and western blot were carried out to evaluate the anti-cancer effect of MTX-Gold NPs on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Our observations demonstrated the decrease in the percent viable cells after the treatment of MTX-GNPs, with an arrest in cell cycle at G0/G1 phase and a significant increase in apoptotic cell population and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Folate receptor targeted MTX-GNPs showed significant cellular uptake in breast cancer cells along with significant down-regulation in expression of anti-apoptotic gene (Bcl-2) and up-regulation in expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-9, APAF-1, p53). These results unveil the increased anti-cancer effect of MTX-GNPs in cancer cells.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02718-7.

Biosynthesis, characterization of PLGA coated folate-mediated multiple drug loaded copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles and it's cytotoxicity on nasopharyngeal cancer cell lines

Cytotoxicity of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) are an impediment in utilizing them as an effective nanocarriers of chemotherapeutic drugs for targeted drug delivery in nasopharyngeal cancer. In our current study, we have designed a two-step synthesis and coating of CuO NPs with different concentrations of PLGA (polylactide-co-glycolide) to reduce the cytotoxicity. This was further conjugated with folic acid to enhance targeting to specific tissue. The multiple drugs loaded in the NPs were two potent anticancer drugs doxorubicin and docetaxel. A complete characterization studies including micrographic analysis, zeta potential measurements, polydispersity index, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), encapsulation and loading efficiencies, stability and in vitro release studies were done. Cytoxicity studies were done with MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, acridine orange/ethidium bromide and DAPI (4, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, dihydrochloride) staining procedures. Impediametric studies were also carried out to reinforce the reduction in cytotoxicity. Finally the cellular uptake of the NPs was seen. It was evident from the results that the multiple drugs loaded CuO NPs formed with PLGA coating were uniform, non-agglomerated in size ranging from 180 to 195 nm. The FTIR revealed no major changes in drug peaks. Encapsulation and loading efficiencies showed sufficient amount of drug being loaded into the NPs. The drug loaded NPs showed no change in size or zeta potential even after a period of 30 days. The cytotoxicity studies revealed significant reduction in toxicity after coating the surface treated with PLGA as evident from the microscopic analysis of cells. Hence the current study may be prioritized and further in vivo/in vitro studies may be carried out.