Surface-modified magnetite nanoparticles act as aneugen-like spindle poison.
Iron oxide nanoparticles are one of the most promising types of nanoparticles for biomedical applications, primarily in the context of nanomedicine-based diagnostics and therapy; hence, great attention should be paid to their bio-safety. Here, we investigate the ability of surface-modified magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) to produce chromosome damage in human alveolar A549 cells. Compared to control cells, all the applied MNPs increased the level of micronuclei moderately but did not cause structural chromosomal aberrations in exposed cells. A rise in endoreplication, polyploid and multinuclear cells along with disruption of tubulin filaments, downregulation of Aurora protein kinases and p53 protein activation indicated the capacity of these MNPs to impair the chromosomal passenger complex and/or centrosome maturation. We suppose that surface-modified MNPs may act as aneugen-like spindle poisons via interference with tubulin polymerization. Further studies on experimental animals revealing mechanisms of therapeutic-aimed MNPs are required to confirm their suitability as potential anti-cancer drugs.
Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, BMC SAS, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Barbora
B
Buliaková
Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, BMC SAS, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Monika
M
Mesárošová
Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, BMC SAS, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Andrea
A
Bábelová
Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, BMC SAS, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Michal
M
Šelc
Polymer Institute, SAS, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Veronika
V
Némethová
Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, BMC SAS, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Lívia
L
Šebová
Polymer Institute, SAS, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Filip
F
Rázga
Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Monika
M
Ursínyová
Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, BMC SAS, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Ivan
I
Chalupa
Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, BMC SAS, Bratislava, Slovakia. Electronic address: alena.gabelova@savba.sk.
Alena
A
Gábelová
D000072283:A549 Cells; D024422:Aneugens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; D050997:Nanomedicine; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000187:drug effects
D024422:Aneugens; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D014404:Tubulin
Chromosome aberrations; Human A549 cells; Magnetite nanoparticles; Micronuclei; Microtubule dynamics