title: Effects of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma BEL-7402 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles on human hepatoma cell line BEL-7402 in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  The human hepatoma cell line BEL-7402 was cultured and treated with HAP nanoparticles at various concentrations. Growth suppression was detected with MTT colorimetric assay, cell apoptotic alterations were evaluated by cytochemical staining (Hoechst 33258), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and flow cytometry (FCM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  HAP nanoparticles inhibited the growth of hepatoma cells in a dose-dependent manner, with IC(50) values of 29.30 mg/L. Treated with 50-200 mg/L HAP nanoparticles for 48 h, BEL-7402 cells apoptosis with nuclear chromatin condensation and fragmentation as well as cell shrinkage and the formation of apoptotic bodies were observed under cytochemical staining and transmission electron microscopy. FCM analysis showed hypodiploid peaks on histogram, the apoptotic rates at the concentrations of 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 mg/L of HAP nanoparticles were 20.35+/-2.23 %, 25.35+/-1.92 %, 29.34+/-4.61 %, 44.92+/-3.78 % and 53.64+/-3.49 %, respectively, which were all significantly higher than that of control group 2.23+/-0.14 %. There was a significant correlation between HAP nanoparticle concentration and apoptotic rate (r=0.994, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HAP nanoparticles not only inhibit proliferation but also induce apoptosis of human hepatoma cell line BEL-7402 in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China. hyfr@mail.wh.cei.gov.cn
authors.forename: Zhi-Su
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sheng-Li
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Zhong-Li
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Ai
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D017886:Durapatite / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010316:Particle Size; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017886:Durapatite