title: Induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by NiZn ferrite nanoparticles through mitochondrial cytochrome C release.
abstract: The long-term objective of the present study was to determine the ability of NiZn ferrite nanoparticles to kill cancer cells. NiZn ferrite nanoparticle suspensions were found to have an average hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index, and zeta potential of 254.2 ± 29.8 nm, 0.524 ± 0.013, and -60 ± 14 mV, respectively. We showed that NiZn ferrite nanoparticles had selective toxicity towards MCF-7, HepG2, and HT29 cells, with a lesser effect on normal MCF 10A cells. The quantity of Bcl-2, Bax, p53, and cytochrome C in the cell lines mentioned above was determined by colorimetric methods in order to clarify the mechanism of action of NiZn ferrite nanoparticles in the killing of cancer cells. Our results indicate that NiZn ferrite nanoparticles promote apoptosis in cancer cells via caspase-3 and caspase-9, downregulation of Bcl-2, and upregulation of Bax and p53, with cytochrome C translocation. There was a concomitant collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential in these cancer cells when treated with NiZn ferrite nanoparticles. This study shows that NiZn ferrite nanoparticles induce glutathione depletion in cancer cells, which results in increased production of reactive oxygen species and eventually, death of cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mothanna Sadiq
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Al-Qubaisi
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rasedee
authors.forename: Moayad Husein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Flaifel
authors.forename: Sahrim Hj
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Samer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hussein-Al-Ali
authors.forename: Mohd Zobir
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: Zulkarnain
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zainal
authors.forename: Fatah H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Alhassan
authors.forename: Yun H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Taufiq-Yap
authors.forename: Eltayeb E M
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Eid
authors.forename: Ismail Adam
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Arbab
authors.forename: Bandar A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Al-Asbahi
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Mohamed Ezzat
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: El Zowalaty
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C042584:nickel-zinc ferrite; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D009532:Nickel; D045304:Cytochromes c; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: NiZn ferrite nanoparticles; cancer cells; cytochrome C; mitochondrial membrane potential; p53; reactive oxygen species