Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles Cytocompatibility Versus Cytotoxicity: A Serendipitous Paradox.
Due to efficacious characteristics of calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CPNs), they have numerously been employed in nanomedicine, particularly as carrier for therapeutic and diagnostic agents, and also in tissue engineering. Although calcium phosphate minerals are noted for their cytocompatibility, there are outstanding findings from various studies that question whether they are still compatible with cells in nanoscale ranges or not and it leads to the controversial issue of CPNs cytocompatibility versus cytotoxicity. In this regard, it is necessary to know how CPNs could result in cytotoxicity for future studies. Interestingly, most of the researchers have attributed the cytotoxicity to triggering of apoptosis in CPNs-exposed cells. Furthermore, it is reported that CPNs could result in cancer cell demise through induction of apoptosis. According to the findings, not only CPNs are promising for cancer cell drug delivery, but also they have the potential to be employed as therapeutic agents. In this review, firstly the physical and chemical properties of CPNs and their application in medicine are reviewed. Moreover, the interaction between CPNs and different kind of cells are covered. Lastly, employment of CPNs as a therapeutic agent is discussed.
Division of Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering, School of Pharmacy, Boots Science Building, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD. United Kingdom.
Milad P
MP
Masouleh
Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology, Department of Health Science and Technology, ETH, Zürich 8093. Switzerland.
Vahid
V
Hosseini
Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Department, Materials and Energy Research Center, Karaj. Iran.
Masoud
M
Pourhaghgouy
Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Seoul National University College of Medicine. Korea.
Martin K
MK
Bakht
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002130:Calcium Phosphates
Calcium phosphate nanoparticles; apoptosis; calcium signaling; cytotoxicity; mitochondrial-dependent pathway; nanotoxicity