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Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Induces Apoptosis in Human Epidermoid Carcinoma Cells Through Reactive Oxygen Species and DNA Degradation

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Abstract

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are used immensely in technology and medicine, but very less is known about toxicity mechanism to human epidermal cells. The objective of this study was to evaluate possible anticancer properties of ZnO-NPs on human epidermoid carcinoma cells using MTT assay, measurement of reactive oxygen species, DNA fragmentation, and nuclear condensation. ZnO-NPs were synthesized by sol-gel method using zinc acetate dihydrate, ethylene glycol, and 2-propyl alcohol. Numerous characterization techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering spectroscopy were used to confirm synthesis, purity, optical, and surface characteristics, size, shape, and distribution of ZnO-NPs. Our finding showed that ZnO-NPs considerably decreased cell viability of human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells with a parallel increase in nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, real time PCR expression study showed that treatment of human epidermoid carcinoma cells with ZnO-NPs trigger increased expression of tumor suppressor gene p53, bax, and caspase-3 while downregulate antiapoptotic gene bcl-2. Thus ZnO-NPs induce apoptosis in A431 cells through DNA degradation and generation of reactive oxygen species via p53, bax/bcl-2, and caspase pathways.

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Funding

This work was supported by Deanship of Scientific Research, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia (Grant Number: DF-708-130-1441). AA thanks to DSR, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia for the financial assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India

    Mohd Jahir Khan

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Abrar Ahmad

  3. Department of Biochemistry, University College of Medical Sciences & GTB Hospital, Delhi, India

    Mahmood Ahmad Khan

  4. Department of Biotechnology, Era’s Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Lucknow, 226003, India

    Sahabjada Siddiqui

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  1. Mohd Jahir Khan
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  2. Abrar Ahmad
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Khan, M.J., Ahmad, A., Khan, M.A. et al. Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Induces Apoptosis in Human Epidermoid Carcinoma Cells Through Reactive Oxygen Species and DNA Degradation. Biol Trace Elem Res 199, 2172–2181 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02323-4

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