In Vitro Apoptosis Evaluation and Kinetic Modeling onto Cyclodextrin-Based Host–Guest Magnetic Nanoparticles Containing Methotrexate and Tamoxifen

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.

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.