Improving Tamoxifen Performance in Inducing Apoptosis and Hepatoprotection by Loading on a Dual Nanomagnetic Targeting System

BACKGROUND

Although tamoxifen (TMX) belongs to selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) and selectively binds to estrogen receptors, it affects other estrogen-producing tissues due to passive diffusion and non-differentiation of normal and cancerous cells and leads to side effects.

METHODS

The problems expressed about tamoxifen (TMX) encouraged us to design a new drug delivery system based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to simultaneously target two receptors on cancer cells through folic acid (FA) and hyaluronic acid (HA) groups. The mediator of binding of two targeting agents to MNPs is a polymer linker, including dopamine, polyethylene glycol, and terminal amine (DPN).

RESULTS

Zeta potential, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) methods confirmed that MNPs-DPN-HA-FA has a suitable size of ~105 nm and a surface charge of -41 mV, and therefore, it can be a suitable option for carrying TMX and increasing its solubility. The cytotoxic test showed that the highest concentration of MNPs-DPN-HA-FA-TMX decreased cell viability to about 11% after 72 h of exposure compared to the control. While the protective effect of modified MNPs on normal cells was evident, unlike tamoxifen, the survival rate of liver cells, even after 180 min of treatment, was not significantly different from the control group. The protective effect of MNPs was also confirmed by examining the amount of malondialdehyde, and no significant difference was observed in the amount of lipid peroxidation caused by modified MNPs compared to the control. Flow cytometry proved that TMX can induce apoptosis by targeting MNPs. Real-time PCR showed that the modified MNPs activated the intrinsic and extrinsic mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis, so the Bak1/Bclx ratio for MNPs-DPN-HA-FA-TMX and free TMX was 70.82 and 0.38, respectively. Also, the expression of the caspase-3 gene increased 430 times compared to the control. On the other hand, only TNF gene expression, which is responsible for metastasis in some tumors, was decreased by both free TMX and MNPs-DPN-HA-FA-TMX. Finally, molecular docking proved that MNPs-DPN-HA-FA-TMX could provide a very stable interaction with both CD44 and folate receptors, induce apoptosis in cancer cells, and reduce hepatotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

All the results showed that MNPs-DPN-HA-FA-TMX can show good affinity to cancer cells using targeting agents and induce apoptosis in metastatic breast ductal carcinoma T-47D cell lines. Also, the protective effects of MNPs on hepatocytes are quite evident, and they can reduce the side effects of TMX.

Effect of Cu(II) compound containing dipicolinic acid on DNA damage: a study of antiproliferative activity and DNA interaction properties by spectroscopic, molecular docking and molecular dynamics approaches

A polymeric compound formulized as [Cu(µ-dipic)2{Na2(µ-H2O)4]n.2nH2O (I), where dipic is 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid (dipicolinic acid, H2dipic), was synthesized by sonochemical irradiation. The initial in-vitro cytotoxic activity of this complex compared with renowned anticancer drugs like cisplatin, versus HCT116 colon cell lines, shows promising results. This study investigated the interaction mode between compound (I) and calf-thymus DNA utilizing a range of analytical techniques including spectrophotometry, fluorimetry, partition coefficient analysis, viscometry, gel electrophoresis and molecular docking technique. The results obtained from experimental methods reveal complex (I) could bind to CT-DNA via hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces and the theoretical methods support it. Also, complex (I) indicates nuclease activity in the attendance of H2O2 and can act as an artificial nuclease to cleave DNA with high efficiency.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Corrigendum to: Investigation of the Apoptosis Inducing and β-catenin Silencing by Tetradentate Schiff Base Zinc(II) Complex on the T-47D Breast Cancer Cells

A typographical error appeared in the author affiliation titled "Investigation of the Apoptosis Inducing and β-catenin Silencing by Tetradentate Schiff Base Zinc(II) Complex on the T-47D Breast Cancer Cells", published in Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 2023, 23(15) [1]. Details of the error and a correction are provided here. Original: Author Affiliation: 2Department of Breast Medicine, Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Liaoning Provincial Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110042, China Corrected: Author Affiliation: 2Department of Breast Medicine, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, China We regret the error and apologize to readers. The original article can be found online at https://www.eurekaselect.com/article/131718.

Synthesis of halloysite nanotubes decorated with green silver nanoparticles to investigate cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation and induction of apoptosis in acute leukemia cells

Leukemia is the 15th most common cancer in adults and the first most common cancer in children under the age of five, and unfortunately, it accounts for many deaths every year. Since leukemia chemotherapy usually fails due to chemotherapy resistance and disease relapse, many efforts are being made to develop new methods of leukemia treatment. Therefore, for the first time, we decorated halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with green silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with the help of Moringa Peregrina leaves extract to increase the solubility of Ag NPs and to use the protective ability of HNTs against lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes. Cell survival assay by the MTT method showed that HNTs-Ag NPs can decrease the survival of Jurkat T-cells to about 10% compared to the control. The IC50 value was estimated as 0.00177 mg/mL after 96 h of treatment. Investigating the expression of genes involved in apoptosis by Real-time PCR proved that decorated HNTs with Ag NPs can increase the Bak1/Bclx ratio by 17.5 times the control group. Also, the expression of the caspase-3 gene has increased 10 times compared to the control. Finally, the reduction of malondialdehyde production after 24 h proved that the presence of HNTs can have a good protective effect on lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes. Therefore, on the one hand, we can hope for the ability of HNTs-Ag NPs to induce apoptosis in blood cancer cells and on the other hand for its protective effects on normal blood cells.

Investigation of the Apoptosis Inducing and β-catenin Silencing by Tetradentate Schiff Base Zinc(II) Complex on the T-47D Breast Cancer Cells

INTRODUCTION

Several mechanisms are known for the anticancer effects of cisplatin. However, its most wellknown function involves binding to DNA and activating the DNA damage response.

METHODS

Despite its good effects, the treatment process often leads to chemoresistance and affects the mechanisms that support cell survival, such as pathways that promote cell growth, apoptosis, DNA damage repair, and endocytosis. For this reason, we investigated the effects of a new metal complex (tetradentate Schiff base zinc(II) complex) on breast cancer cells (T-47D). We evaluated its effect on cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and drug resistance in comparison to cisplatin.

RESULTS

The results of the MTT test showed that tetradentate Schiff base zinc(II) complex has good cytotoxicity compared to cisplatin. The IC50 values for the [Zn(SB)]Cl2 complex and cisplatin after 72 h of exposure were equal to 42.1 and 276.1 μM, respectively. Real-time PCR assay confirmed that the [Zn(SB)]Cl2 complex activated the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis and increased the expression of Bak1 and caspase-3 genes significantly compared to cisplatin. More importantly, the [Zn(SB)]Cl2 was able to reduce the expression of the β-catenin gene, which plays a role in drug resistance, by 0.011 compared to the control.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, we can hope for this new complex because, without the help of any β-catenin silencing agent, it was able to inhibit the drug resistance in the T-47D cell line that overexpresses the β-catenin gene.

Evaluation of Induced Apoptosis by Biosynthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells Using Bak1 and Bclx Expression

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have peaked interests in many researches in these recent years due to their advantageous application in modern health care applications. Therefore, we successfully synthesized ZnO NPs by Acacia luciana flower extract as stabilizing, reducing and capping agent, to investigate the antiproliferative potential and apoptosis induction in breast cancer cell lines. The involvements of Acacia luciana bioactive compounds in the stabilization of the ZnO NPs were confirmed by FTIR analysis. FESEM and EDS instruments confirmed that biosynthesized nanoparticles have an irregular morphology and mostly composed of Zn, C, and O respectively. The TEM and zeta potential instruments confirmed that biosynthesized nanoparticles have slight negative charges with particle size of 40 nm. The survivorship of MCF-7 cells were examined by MTT assay and revealed that ZnO NPs inhibited cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent effect with IC₅₀ value of 3.1 µg/mL after 72 h exposure. Also, as a novel work onto ZnO NPs obtained by Acacia extracts, the Bak1/Bclx expression ratio was elucidated utilizing RT-PCR technique. The results demonstrated that ZnO NPs could enhance the expression ratio; therefore they have the potential to induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells via mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway.

The role of folic acid in inducing of apoptosis by zinc(II) complex in ovary and cervix cancer cells

Herein, the synthesis, structure, binding affinity, cytotoxicity, and apoptotic properties of the new Zn(II) complex composed of folic acid and bipyridine ligands are reported. Because folic acid has the ability to target cancer cells directly, so it can play a role in targeted drug delivery of the complex and be useful to distinguish normal cells from cancerous. After characterization of Zinc complex utilizing FTIR, EA, and NMR, the results of MTT assay were shown that viability levels of two FR-positive cell lines (HeLa and Ovcar-3) are dependent on time and concentration of [Zn(bpy)FA], whereas, did not show a significant effect on FR-negative cell lines (A549). Also, Real-time PCR revealed that the presence of FA can influence the expression of apoptosis in cervical carcinoma HeLa cells while cisplatin alone doesn't have the ability to trigger apoptosis. Furthermore, the experimental results were evaluated using pharmacophore modeling and molecular docking analysis. Finally, the stability of the Zn(II) complex was surveyed using quantum mechanical studies.

Anti-cancer study and whey protein complexation of new lanthanum(III) complex with the aim of achieving bioactive anticancer metal-based drugs

In this study, a new lanthanum (III)-amino acid complex utilizing cysteine has been synthesized and characterized. The anticancer activities of the prepared La(III) complex against MCF-7 cell lines were studied. Results of MTT assay showed that at all three incubation times, the cytotoxic effect of prepared La(III) complex on MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines displays a time- and dose-dependent inhibitory effects. The interactions of the La(III) complex with two whey proteins (bovine serum albumin, BSA, and Bovine β-lactoglobulin, βLG) have been explored by using spectroscopic and molecular dicking methods. The obtained results indicated that La(III) complex strongly quenched the fluorescence of two carrier proteins in static quenching mode and also, BSA hah stronger binding affinity toward studied complex than βLG whit binding constant values of K_{BSA-La Complex} ∼ 0.11 × 10⁴ M^-1 and K_{βLG-La Complex} ∼ 0.63 × 10³ M^-1 at 300 K. The thermodynamic parameters revealed the contribution of hydrogen bond and Vander Waals interactions in both systems. The distances of the La(III) complex whit whey proteins were calculated using Förster energy transfer theory and proved existence of the energy transfer between two proteins and prepared La(III) complex with a high probability. FT-IR and UV-Vis absorption measurements indicated that the binding of the La(III) to BSA and βLG may induce conformational and micro-environmental changes of the proteins. The docking results indicate that the La(III) complex bind to residues located in the site II of BSA and second site of βLG. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Palladium(II) complexes of biorelevant ligands. Synthesis, structures, cytotoxicity and rich DNA/HSA interaction studies

In this work, a pair of new palladium(II) complexes, [Pd(Gly)(Phe)] and [Pd(Gly)(Tyr)], (where Gly is glycine, Phe is phenylalanine, and Tyr is tyrosine) were synthesized and characterized by UV-Vis, FT-IR, elemental analysis, ¹H-NMR, and conductivity measurements. The detailed ¹H NMR and infrared spectral studies of these Pd(II) complexes ascertain the mode of binding of amino acids to palladium through nitrogen of -NH₂ and oxygen of -COO^- groups as bidentate chelates. The Pd(II) complexes have been tested for in vitro cytotoxicity activities against cancer cell line of K₅₆₂. Interactions of these Pd(II) complexes with CT-DNA and human serum albumin were identified through absorption/emission titrations and gel electrophoresis which indicated significant binding proficiency. The binding distance (r) between these synthesized complexes and HSA based on Forster's theory of non-radiation energy transfer were calculated. Alterations of HSA secondary structure induced by complexes were confirmed by FT-IR measurements. The results of emission quenching at three temperatures have revealed that the quenching mechanism of these Pd(II) complexes with CT-DNA and HSA were the static and dynamic quenching mechanism, respectively. Binding constants (K_b), binding site number (n), and the corresponding thermodynamic parameters were calculated and revealed that the hydrogen binding and hydrophobic forces played a major role when Pd(II) complexes interacted with DNA and HSA, respectively. We bid that [Pd(Gly)(Phe)] and [Pd(Gly)(Tyr)] complexes exhibit the groove binding with CT-DNA and interact with the main binding pocket of HSA. The complexes follow the binding affinity order of [Pd(Gly)(Tyr)] > [Pd(Gly)(Phe)] with CT-DNA- and HSA-binding.

Hyaluronic acid/polyethylene glycol nanoparticles for controlled delivery of mitoxantrone

Hyaluronic acid (HA) has inherent ability to target the CD44 receptors and internalize into tumour cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis. Therefore, conjugation of this natural linear polysaccharide to polymeric NPs or micelles, as one of the most promising approaches, could be useful for future clinical applications such as drug delivery. Accordingly, we report on the synthesis of mitoxantrone (MTX)-conjugated polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) composed of polyethylene glycol-HA (PEG-HA) for MTX delivery toward special tumour cells. To determine the size of the polymeric NPs, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and particle size analyzer system Zetasizer_nanoZS were employed. The in vitro cytotoxicity analysis of MTX-loaded HA-PEG NPs and free MTX against two cell lines with different levels of CD44 expression (MDA-MB-231 (very high) and MCF-7 (low) was conducted by MTT assay. Also, computational molecular docking was employed to study in detail the active site residues and the critical interactions between HA-EDA-PEG-EDA-MTX NPs and CD44 receptor. The particle size analysis and electron microscopy showed the average size of polymeric NPs less than 350 nm. FT-IR spectrophotometry analysis and also NMR confirmed the conjugation of HA and MTX onto the PEG. Cytotoxicity assay revealed that the engineered polymeric NPs were able to specifically bind to and significantly inhibit the CD44 receptor-positive MDA-MB-231 cells, but not the CD44-negative MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, analysis of the binding modes revealed that for the best-docked pose nearly 10 conventional hydrogen bond can occur between the MTX-EDA-PEG-EDA-HA NPs and amino acids of CD44 receptor. Based on these findings, we suggest the HA-PEG-MTX NPs as an effective functional-targeted nanomedicine toward therapy of CD44-positive cancers.

Investigating the Apoptosis Ability of Ethylenediamine 8-Hydroxyquinolinato Palladium (II) Complex

Purpose: High solubility, low renal toxicity and apoptosis-inducing ability of palladium complexes are the reasons for their synthesis. Methods: In vitro cytotoxic study of previously synthesized [Pd(en)(8HQ)]NO₃ , was carried out on breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines and prostate cancer DU145 cell lines. DNA fragmentation indicative of apoptotic was also evaluated by TUNEL assay on DU145 cell line. Results: FT-IR spectra of final complex confirmed the existence of chelating ligands. The DU145 cells unlike the MCF-7 cells, demonstrated the significant influence of the Pd (II) complex. The IC₅₀ values of [Pd(en)(8HQ)]NO₃ and cisplatin on DU145 cells were 27 and 8.3 μM, respectively. Moreover, nearly 38% apoptosis was evident in DU145 cells after treatment with [Pd(en)(8HQ)]NO₃. Conclusion: [Pd(en)(8HQ)]NO₃ has great potential in DNA binding and induction of apoptosis; thus it can be used in the future against prostate cancer.

Evaluation of host-guest system to enhance the tamoxifen efficiency

Hydrophobic drugs can absorb as guest molecules inside the cavity of cyclodextrins as host sites. So, forming the drug-cyclodextrin complex can exert a profound effect on the physicochemical and biological properties of the drugs. According to these advantages, in this study, we synthesized the tamoxifen (TMX) loaded cyclodextrin (CD)-conjugated MNPs to evaluate simultaneously the cytotoxicity and sustained release as well as hepatoprotective effect of this nanomedicine. The average size of Fe₃O₄-DPA-PEG-CD-TMX NPs was approximately 31 nm. By energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), it was revealed that Fe₃O₄ constitutes 14.34% of the composition of modified MNPs. In the other words, nearly 85% of Fe₃O₄-DPA-PEG-CD NPs are made of dopamine (DPA), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The TMX loaded MNPs (with entrapment efficiency of 33 mg TMX per unit CD (mg) and loading efficiency of 87.5%) showed sustained liberation of TMX molecules (with 91% release in 120 h). Cytotoxicity assay and apoptosis assay by TUNEL analysis revealed that the engineered Fe₃O₄-DPA-PEG-CD-TMX NPs were able to significantly inhibit the MCF-7 breast cancer cells. According to effect of CD on TMX sustained release, it was found that CD can decrease the hepatotoxicity induced by TMX nearly 30%. Based upon these findings, we suggest the Fe₃O₄-DPA-PEG-CD-TMX NPs as an effective multifunctional nanomedicine with simultaneous therapeutic and hepatoprotective effects.

Synthesis, characterization, in vitro cytotoxicity, in silico ADMET analysis and interaction studies of 5-dithiocarbamato-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol and its zinc(ii) complex with human serum albumin: combined spectroscopy and molecular docking investigations

The binding site of new complex Zn(ii) of 5-dithiocarbamato-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol and HAS.

Multifunctional mitoxantrone-conjugated magnetic nanosystem for targeted therapy of folate receptor-overexpressing malignant cells

Background

Targeted delivery of anticancer chemotherapeutics such as mitoxantrone (MTX) can significantly intensify their cytotoxic effects selectively in solid tumors such as breast cancer. In the current study, folic acid (FA)-armed and MTX-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were engineered for targeted eradication of folate receptor (FR)-positive cancerous cells. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), FA and MTX were covalently conjugated onto the MNPs to engineer the PEGylated FA-MTX-MNPs. The internalization studies were performed using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled FA-decorated MNPs (FA-FITC-MNPs) in both FR-positive MCF-7 cells and FR-negative A549 cells by means of fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The cellular and molecular impacts of FA-MTX-MNPs were examined using trypan blue cell viability and FITC-labeled annexin V apoptosis assays and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, DNA ladder and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays.

Results

The FR-positive MCF-7 cells showed significant internalization of the FA-FITC-MNPs, but not the FR-negative A549 cells. The FR-positive cells treated with the PEGylated FA-MTX-MNPs exhibited the IC₅₀ values of 3 μg/mL and 1.7 μg/mL, 24 h and 48 h post-treatment, respectively. DAPI staining and DNA ladder assays revealed significant condensation of nucleus and fragmentation of genomic DNA in the FR-positive MCF-7 cells treated with the PEGylated FA-MTX-MNPs as compared to the FR-negative A549 cells. The FITC-labeled annexin V assay confirmed emergence of late apoptosis (>80%) in the FR-positive MCF-7 cells treated with the PEGylated FA-MTX-MNPs, but not in the FR-negative A549 cells. The qPCR analysis confirmed profound cytotoxic impacts via alterations of apoptosis-related genes induced by MTX-FA-MNPs in MCF-7 cells, but not in the A549 cells.

Conclusion

Our findings evince that the engineered PEGylated FA-MTX-MNPs can be specifically taken up by the FR-positive malignant cells and effectively demolish them through up-regulation of Bcl-2–associated X protein (Bax) and Caspase 9 and down-regulation of AKt. Hence, the engineered nanosystem is proposed for simultaneous targeted imaging and therapy of various cancers overexpressing FRs.

Targeted fluoromagnetic nanoparticles for imaging of breast cancer mcf-7 cells

PURPOSE

To achieve simultaneous imaging and therapy potentials, targeted fluoromagnetic nanoparticles were synthesized and examined in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.

METHODS

Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized through thermal decomposition of Fe(acac)3. Then, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) modified by dopamine-poly ethylene glycol (PEG)-NH2; finally, half equivalent fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and half equivalent folic acid were conjugated to one equivalent of it. The presence of Fe3O4-DPA-PEG-FA/FITC in the folate receptor (FR) positive MCF-7 cells was determined via fluorescent microscopy to monitor the cellular interaction of MNPs.

RESULTS

FT-IR spectra of final compound confirmed existence of fluorescein on folic acid grafted MNPs. The Fe3O4-DPA-PEG-FA/FITC NPs, which displayed a size rang about 30-35 nm using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were able to actively recognize the FR-positive MCF-7 cells, but not the FR-negative A549 cells.

CONCLUSION

The uniform nano-sized Fe3O4-DPA-PEG-FA/FITC NPs displayed great potential as theranostics and can be used for targeted imaging of various tumors that overexpress FR.

Specific targeting of cancer cells by multifunctional mitoxantrone-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles

We report on the synthesis of bifunctional mitoxantrone (MTX)-grafted magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) modified by dopamine-polyethylene glycol-folic acid (DPA-PEG-FA) for targeted imaging and therapy of cancer. MNPs (~7-10 nm) were synthesized using the thermal decomposition reaction of Fe(acac)3. Bromoacetyl (BrAc) terminal polyethylene glycol dopamine (DPA-PEG-BrAc) was synthesized and treated with ethylene diamine to form bifunctional PEG moiety containing dopamine at one end and amino group at the other end (i.e. DPA-PEG-NH2). It was then reacted with Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) to form Fe3O4-DPA-PEG-NH2 NPs. The activated folic acid (FA) was chemically coupled to Fe3O4-DPA-PEG-NH2, forming Fe3O4-DPA-PEG-FA. MTX was then conjugated to Fe3O4-DPA-PEG-FA, forming Fe3O4-DPA-PEG-FA-MTX. Physicochemical characteristics of the engineered MNPs were determined. The particle size analysis and electron microscopy showed an average size of ~35 nm for Fe3O4-DPA-PEG-FA-MTX NPs with superparamagnetic behavior. FT-IR spectrophotometry analysis confirmed the conjugation of FA and MTX onto the MNPs. Fluorescence microscopy, cytotoxicity assay and flow cytometry analysis revealed that the engineered Fe3O4-DPA-PEG-FA-MTX NPs were able to specifically bind to and significantly inhibit the folate receptor (FR)-positive MCF-7 cells, but not the FR-negative A549 cells. Based upon these findings, we suggest the Fe3O4-DPA-PEG-FA-MTX NPs as an effective multifunctional-targeted nanomedicine toward simultaneous imaging and therapy of FR-positive cancers.