Role of metal oxide nanostructures in extracellular pH regulations

Abstract

Abstract. A research area of great promise is the cancer treatment by regulating microenvironmental parameters of tumor cells using MgO and AlOOH. Magnesium hydroxide and aluminum oxyhydroxide (boehmite) are in the form of nanoplates and nanosheets. The morphology, structure, phases and electrokinetic properties of synthesized samples are analyzed using complex physical and chemical methods. We study how the pH of the culture medium-different when in contact with synthesized nanoplates-affects the viability of tumor cells. It is shown that MgO is more efficient in decreasing the tumor cell viability than AlOOH. In the case of magnesium hydroxide, the pH of the culture medium increases to 10.1; in the case of boehmite, to 7.7.

Two-dimensional Al hydroxide interaction with cancerous cell membrane building units: Complexed free energy and orientation analysis

“…Recently it has been experimentally found that the low-dimensional aluminum oxyhydroxide is prospective nanomaterial (AlOOH-NM), at least, to be adjuvant in anticancer therapy [9,10]. The mechanism of AlOOH-NM antitumor activity may be provided by the oxyhydroxide influence on pH of extracellular media [11,12] or/and by probable violations in the cell membrane structure accompanied by membrane protein dysfunction, as well as by facilitating cellular uptake of the therapeutic agents, or something fourth. In any case, it is under-explored so far.…”