Synthesis of metformin-derived fluorescent quantum dots: uptake, cytotoxicity, and inhibition in human breast cancer cells through autophagy pathway

Abstract

Background Breast cancer remains a challenge for physicians. Metformin, an antidiabetic drug, show promising anticancer properties against cancers. An emerging quantum dot (QD) material improves therapeutic agents’ anticancer and imaging properties. QD are nano-sized particles with extreme application in nanotechnology captured by cells and accumulated inside cells, suggesting bioimaging and effective anticancer outcomes. In this study, a simple one-pot hydrothermal method was used to synthesize fluorescent metformin-derived carbon dots (M-CDs) and then investigated the cytotoxic effects and imaging features on two human breast cancer cell lines including, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Results Results showed that M-CDs profoundly decreased the viability of both cancer cells. IC50 values showed that M-CDs were more cytotoxic than metformin either 24–48 h post-treatment. Cancer cells uptake M-CDs successfully, which causes morphological changes in cells and increased levels of intracellular ROS. The number of Oil Red O-positive cells and the expression of caspase-3 protein were increased in M-CDs treated cells. Authophagic factors including, AMPK, mTOR, and P62 were down-regulated, while p-AMPK, Becline-1, LC3 I, and LC3 II were up-regulated in M-CDs treated cells. Finally, M-CDs caused a decrease in the wound healing rate of cells. Conclusions For the first, M-CDs were synthesized by simple one-pot hydrothermal treatment without further purification. M-CDs inhibited both breast cancer cells through modulating autophagy signalling. Graphical Abstract