Synergistic enhancement of cancer therapy using a combination of carbon nanotubes and anti-tumor drug.
OBJECTIVE
In previous pharmacological applications, single-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have primarily been explored as potential drug carriers and delivery vehicles. Here, we investigate and demonstrate for the first time, that CNTs can be considered as anti-tumor agents and, when in combination with conventional drugs, can significantly enhance their chemotherapeutic effects.


METHODS
HeLa and human Panc1 cancer cells were treated with CNTs (24 h, 10 and 20 microg/ml), etoposide (6 h, 75 x 10(-6) M) and their combination. The cell viability was controlled by flow cytometry, caspase-3 assay and trypan blue dye.


RESULTS
A highly increased anti-tumor activity of the combination of etoposide and CNTs against cancer cells, compared with the administration of etoposide and CNTs alone, is reported. Data provided by viability assays suggest a strong interaction between CNTs and the cellular structures, thereby improving the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapeutic agents.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe this finding could lead to the development of new cancer therapies by carefully selecting the cytostatic drugs and nanostructural materials that, in combination, may provide synergistic curative rates.
Mahmood
Meena
M
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Applied Science Department, Nanotechnology Center, AR 72211, USA.
Karmakar
Alokita
A
Fejleh
Ashley
A
Mocan
Teodora
T
Iancu
Cornel
C
Mocan
Lucian
L
Iancu
Dana Todea
DT
Xu
Yang
Y
Dervishi
Enkeleda
E
Li
Zhongrui
Z
Biris
Alexandru R
AR
Agarwal
Rakhee
R
Ali
Nawab
N
Galanzha
Ekaterina I
EI
Biris
Alexandru S
AS
Zharov
Vladimir P
VP
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005047:Etoposide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D005047:Etoposide