Pharmaceutical nanotechnology in Egypt: diverse applications and promising outcomes

Design and cytotoxic evaluation via apoptotic and antiproliferative activity for novel 11(4-aminophenylamino)neocryptolepine on hepatocellular and colorectal cancer cells

The current study evaluated the cytotoxic activity of 11(4-Aminophenylamino)neocryptolepine (APAN), a novel derivative of neocryptolepine, on hepatocellular (HepG2) and colon (HCT-116) carcinoma cell lines as well as, the possible molecular mechanism through which it exerts its cytotoxic activity. The APAN was synthesized and characterized based on their spectral analyses. Scanning for anticancer target of APAN by Swiss software indicated that APAN had highest affinity for protein tyrosine kinase 6 enzyme. Furthermore, Super pred software indicated that APAN can be indicated in hepatic and colorectal cells with 92%. Molecular docking studies indicated that the binding affinity scores of APAN for protein PDB code: 6CZ4 of tyrosine kinase 6 recorded of - 6.6084 and RMSD value of 0.8891°A, while that for protein PDB: 7JL7 of caspase 3 was - 6.1712 and RMSD of 0.8490°A. Treatment of HepG2 and HCT-116 cells with APAN induced cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ of 2.6 and 1.82 μg/mL respectively. In addition, it induced injury and serious morphological changes in cells including, disappearance of microvilli, membrane blebbing, cytoplasmic condensation, and shrunken nucleus with more condensed chromatin. Moreover, APAN significantly increased protein expression of annexin V (apoptotic marker). Furthermore, APAN significantly increased protein expression of caspase 3 and P53. However, it significantly reduced secretion of VEGF protein into the medium and decreased protein expression of PCNA and Ki67 in HepG2 and HCT-116 cells. This study indicated that APAN had cytotoxic activity against HepG2 and HCT-116 cells via increasing the expression of apoptotic proteins and reducing the expression of proliferative proteins.

Antiproliferative effects on tumor cells of the synthesized gold nanoparticles against Hep2 liver cancer cell line

Background

Currently, nanomaterials (NMs) research and development is at a fastest pace due to the enhanced implication in different areas of applications. The synthesis of such NMs through biosynthesis methods is gaining much importance because of low cost involved and environment-friendly approach. In this present study, the nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized using a medicinal plant, with anticancer properties so as to incorporate the therapeutic activity within the NPs, such that the NPs will have the attributes of NMs alongside the phytoactivity.

Results

The synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using Graviola, the fruit of Annona muricata (Ramaphal fruit) commonly referred as Mullu seetha fruit (Tamil), was successfully carried out. The initial confirmations of the NPs were using UV-vis spectra, which showed the characteristic peak for the NPs. HRSEM analysis gave an insight on the size and morphology of the NPs. The zeta potential was measured to check the stability of the NPs. The cytotoxicity was carried out in VERO cell line and anticancer study in Hep2 liver cancer cell line. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band showed the characteristic peak at 536 nm for the AuNPs. In SEM micrographs, the size was ranging between 20 and 30 nm, on an average of 15 nm with spherical morphology. On the various tested concentrations in VERO cell line, the nanoparticles were non-toxic to the cells. The anticancer study gave an IC50 value at 10.94 μg/ml.

Conclusions

The NPs showed anticancer activity in treated Hep2 liver cancer cell line and as well as commendable non-toxic effect on normal VERO cell line. The results pose a positive impact to expand further studies in the development of potential drug molecules to tackle the disease of interest.