Cuprous oxide nanoparticles selectively induce apoptosis of tumor cells.
In the rapid development of nanoscience and nanotechnology, many researchers have discovered that metal oxide nanoparticles have very useful pharmacological effects. Cuprous oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) can selectively induce apoptosis and suppress the proliferation of tumor cells, showing great potential as a clinical cancer therapy. Treatment with CONPs caused a G1/G0 cell cycle arrest in tumor cells. Furthermore, CONPs enclosed in vesicles entered, or were taken up by mitochondria, which damaged their membranes, thereby inducing apoptosis. CONPs can also produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and initiate lipid peroxidation of the liposomal membrane, thereby regulating many signaling pathways and influencing the vital movements of cells. Our results demonstrate that CONPs have selective cytotoxicity towards tumor cells, and indicate that CONPs might be a potential nanomedicine for cancer therapy.
Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Ye
Y
Wang
Xiao-Yuan
XY
Zi
Juan
J
Su
Hong-Xia
HX
Zhang
Xin-Rong
XR
Zhang
Hai-Ying
HY
Zhu
Jian-Xiu
JX
Li
Meng
M
Yin
Feng
F
Yang
Yi-Ping
YP
Hu
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004229:Dithiothreitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D003300:Copper; C000520:cuprous oxide; D004229:Dithiothreitol