Preferential killing of cancer cells using silicon carbide quantum dots.
Silicon carbide quantum dots are highly luminescent biocompatible nanoparticles whose properties might be of particular interest for biomedical applications. In this study we investigated Silicon Carbide Quantum Dots (3C-SiC QDs) cellular localisation and influence on viability and proliferation on oral squamous carcinoma (AT-84 and HSC) and immortalized cell lines (S-G). They clearly localize into the nuclei, but the presence of 3C-SiC QDs in culture medium provoke morphological changes in cultured cells. We demonstrate that 3C-SiC QDs display dose- and time-dependent selective cytotoxicity on cancer versus immortalized cells in vitro. Since one of the limitations of classical antineoplastic drugs is their lack of selectivity, these results open a new way in the search for antiproliferative drugs.
Opt of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, AOU S. Luigi, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
Barbara
B
Mognetti
Alessandro
A
Barberis
Silvia
S
Marino
Francesco
F
Di Carlo
Vladimir
V
Lysenko
Olivier
O
Marty
Alain
A
Géloën
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D058726:Nanoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry; D045663:Quantum Dots; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D058726:Nanoconjugates; D017655:Silicon Compounds; C022088:silicon carbide