title: Calcium-channel blocking and nanoparticles-based drug delivery for treatment of drug-resistant human cancers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer cell chemoresistance is one of the major limitations to successful cancer treatment and one of the factors that is responsible for the possible recurrence of the disease. Here, we aimed to combine a calcium-channel blocker, verapamil, with an alternative delivery of the anti-cancer drug, doxorubicin, using nanostructural materials. This approach could reduce the cellular resistance to chemotherapeutics agents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The outcome of this complex approach on cellular viability was investigated by using various assays in both a time- and concentration-dependent manner: WST-1, flow cytometry cell viability assay, fluorescence microscopy, DNA fragmentation, and TUNEL labeling of apoptotic cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All of these analytical assays confirmed the ability to reduce the chemoresistance of the cancer cells based on the proposed procedure.
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences, 2801 S. University Ave, Little Rock, AR 72204, USA.
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.forename: Thikra
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zeid
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nima
authors.forename: Ganesh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kannarpady
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bourdo
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Casciano
authors.forename: Alexandru S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Biris
mesh_terms: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000032:analysis; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers