title: In vitro evaluation of cytotoxicity, possible alteration of apoptotic regulatory proteins, and antibacterial activity of synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles.
abstract: Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) were synthesized using a urea-based thermal decomposition technique, and characterized using different techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the phase purity and crystalline structure of CuO-NPs. The size of CuO-NPs was investigated using XRD and was confirmed via dynamic light scattering analysis. CuO-NPs showed an average diameter of ∼20nm. The possible cytotoxicity of CuO-NPs was evaluated in HT-29 and SW620 cancer cell lines. The median inhibitory concentration of CuO-NPs in HT-29 and SW-620 cells was 4.99 and 3.75μg/mL, respectively. The underlying mechanism responsible for apoptosis in colon cancer cells after CuO-NP exposure has not been well understood. In this study, we investigated the possible mechanisms of induction of apoptosis via analysis of the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins in HT-29 human colon cancer cells after CuO-NP exposure. Western blot assay showed downregulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein expression after CuO-NP exposure. Our findings may aid in the understanding of the potential mechanisms responsible for induction of apoptosis owing to inhibition of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein expression. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity assay showed that the synthesized CuO-NPs did not exert significant inhibitory effects against different gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Nanomedicine & Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, PO Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: khan.shahanavaj@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shahanavaj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, King Saud University, PO Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Anees A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, PO Box 2455, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Azmat Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Research Centre, College of Medicine, King Saud University, PO Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdulla
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Research Centre, College of Medicine, King Saud University, PO Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Al-Obaid
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Research Centre, College of Medicine, King Saud University, PO Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Rehan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D003300:Copper; C000520:cuprous oxide
keywords: Colon cancer cell lines; Copper oxide nanoparticles; Cytotoxicity; MTT assay; Western blot