Two Sides to the Same Coin—Cytotoxicity vs. Potential Metastatic Activity of AgNPs Relative to Triple-Negative Human Breast Cancer MDA-MB-436 Cells

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used in many fields of industry and medicine. Despite the well-established antimicrobial activity, AgNPs are foreseen to be used as anticancer drugs due to the unusual feature—inability to induce drug resistance in cancer cells. The aim of the study was to assess biological activity of AgNPs against MDA-MB-436 cells. The cells were derived from triple-negative breast cancer, a type of breast cancer with poor prognosis and is particularly difficult to cure. AgNPs were toxic to MDA-MB-436 cells and the probable mechanism of toxicity was the induction of oxidative stress. These promising effects, giving the opportunity to use AgNPs as an anti-cancer agent should, however, be treated with caution in the light of further results. Namely, the treatment of MDA-MB-436 cells with AgNPs was associated with the increased secretion of several cytokines and chemokines, which were important in breast cancer metastasis. Finally, changes in the actin cytoskeleton of MDA-MB-436 cells under the influence of AgNPs treatment were also observed.

mRNA transcriptome profiling of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells HepG2 treated with Catharanthus roseus-silver nanoparticles

“…The overexpression of the FADD genes in our study suggests that treatment with C. roseus -AgNPs eventually promotes apoptosis. Similar overexpression was also reported in the previous study, whereby AgNPs treated MDA-MB-436 cells showed an increase in the level of FADD gene[ 50 ]. In this study, the upregulation of ATF4 was also found.…”

mRNA Transcriptomic Profiling of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells HepG2 Treated with <em>Catharanthus roseus</em>-Silver Nanoparticles

“…The overexpression of the FADD genes in our study suggests that treatment with C. roseus-AgNPs eventually promotes apoptosis. Similar overexpression was also reported in the previous study, whereby AgNPs treated MDA-MB-436 cells showed increased in level of FADD gene [49]. In this study, the upregulation of ATF4 was also found.…”

Phytofabrication of silver nanoparticles using Averrhoa bilimbi leaf extract for anticancer activity

“…In medicine, nanoparticles (NPs) are classied into three main categories based on their compositions, chemical properties, and functions: metallic, non-metallic, and metal composite nanoparticles. [1][2][3][4][5] The unique properties of nanoparticles have led to their widespread use in many high-tech industries, particularly in medicine and technology. [6][7][8] The commonly used reducing agents in synthesizing NPs include sodium borohydride, hydrazine, and citrate.…”