Selective cancer-killing ability of metal-based nanoparticles: implications for cancer therapy

Abstract

There has been little focus on the promising ability of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) to kill cancer cells while sparing normal cells. Many in vitro and in vivo reports suggest that certain metal-based NPs are able to induce apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells at specific concentrations that are not significantly toxic to non-cancerous cells. Those NPs are thought to exploit the oxidative stress conditions that prevail in cancer cells, which are largely exhausted of antioxidant ability. This review considers the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by metal-based NPs as a mechanism for the specific killing of cancer cells. The article concomitantly provides a comprehensive description of the important pathways and molecules leading to programmed cell death (PCD), which occurs mainly via apoptosis, autophagy, and necroptosis. The PCD pathways are followed as ROS-burdened cancer cells succumb to ROS-generating metal-based NPs. Exploration of nanotechnology interventions in anticancer therapy demands further research into the mechanism of intracellular induction of ROS by metal-based NPs. Furthermore, the induction of ROS by NPs should be strictly controlled if ROS-based therapy is to become a paradigm in cancer therapy.

Ag-doping regulates the cytotoxicity of TiO2 nanoparticles via oxidative stress in human cancer cells

“…Evidence are rapidly increasing that manipulation of intracellular ROS production can be utilized in killing of cancer cells without much affecting the normal cells 36 , 39 . Our earlier studies have shown that semiconductor nanoparticles such ZnO have potential to selectively kill cancer cells via ROS generation while sparing the normal cells 37 , 38 , 52 . In the present study, we further investigated the regulation of oxidative stress markers (ROS, SOD & GSH) in HepG2 cells upon exposure to 25, 50 and 100 μg/ml of pure and Ag-doped TiO 2 NPs for 6 h. Intracellular ROS generation was assessed by DCFDA fluorescent probe.…”

Role of poly(ε-caprolactone) lipid-core nanocapsules on melanoma–neutrophil crosstalk

“…30 Induction of cell death by apoptosis is a desired mechanism, as intracellular content is not released to the tissue, avoiding further damage of the host tissues. 39,40 In this study, we used concentrations of LNC or AcE-LNC, which did not cause cell death; however, the uptake of nanocapsules sensitized melanoma cells to apoptosis in serum deprivation and hypoxia, both restrictive conditions found in the tumor microenvironment. 41 It is interesting to mention that concentrations of LNC or AcE-LNC, higher than employed in this …”

Palladium nanoparticles induce autophagy and autophagic flux blockade in Hela cells

“…11 In the wake of the rapid development of synthesis techniques, diverse metal nanoparticles (NPs) with unique and outstanding properties have been successfully synthesized and gradually applied in various areas, especially in the life sciences for biosensing, 12,13 cell imaging, 14 drug delivery, [15][16][17] and clinical treatment. 18,19 For example, NPs for targeted delivery have unique capability to localize delivery of drugs to designated tissues. 20 Combining medicines with functionalized NPs may decrease their intrinsic toxicities and improve their therapeutic efficacy.…”