title: Nickel nanowires induced and reactive oxygen species mediated apoptosis in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ability to evade apoptosis is one of the key properties of cancer. The apoptogenic effect of nickel nanowires (Ni NWs) on cancer cell lines has never been adequately addressed. Due to the unique physicochemical characteristics of Ni NWs, we envision the development of a novel anticancer therapeutics specifically for pancreatic cancer. Thus, we investigated whether Ni NWs induce ROS-mediated apoptosis in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma (Panc-1) cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study Ni NWs were fabricated using the electrodeposition method. Synthesized Ni NWs were physically characterized by energy dispersive X-ray analysis, UV-Vis spectroscopy of NanoDrop 2000 (UV-Vis), magnetization study, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Assessment of morphological apoptotic characteristics by phase contrast microscopy (PCM), Ni-NWs-induced apoptosis staining with ethidium bromide (EB) and acridine orange (AO) followed by fluorescence microscopy (FM) was performed. For molecular biological and biochemical characterization, Panc-1 cell culture and cytotoxic effect of Ni NWs were determined by using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Quantitative apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry staining with propidium iodide through cell cycle arrest and generation of ROS using 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate fluorescence intensity. In all experiments, Panc-1 cancer cells without any treatment were used as the negative controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intracellular uptake of Ni NWs through endocytosis by Panc-1 cells was observed by PCM. EB and AO staining of FM and MTT assay qualitatively and quantitatively confirmed the extent of apoptosis. Flow cytometric cell cycle arrest and ROS generation indicated Ni NWs as inducers of apoptotic cell death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We investigated the role of Ni NWs as inducers of ROS-mediated apoptosis in Panc-1 cells. These results suggested that Ni NWs could be an effective apoptotic agent for Panc-1 cells and have good potential for further research into a clinical treatment selective for pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Applied Biosciences-Bionanotechnology Research, Department of Applied Science, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204, USA. mxhossain1@ualr.edu
authors.forename: Md Zakir
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Maurice G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kleve
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D036103:Nanotechnology; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010316:Particle Size; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D009532:Nickel; C022616:thiazolyl blue