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Thioglucose-bound gold nanoparticles increase the radiosensitivity of a triple-negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231)

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Abstract

Background

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have been conceived to cause increased cytotoxicity of radiotherapy in human malignant cells. Greater uptake of GNPs by cells may induce increased radiation effects. Here we report the radiosensitization effect of glucose-capped GNPs (Glu-GNPs) with different sizes (16 nm and 49 nm) on MDA-MB-231 cells in the presence of megavoltage X-rays.

Methods

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the distribution of Glu-GNPs in cells. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) was used to measure the quantities of Glu-GNPs absorbed by cells. After treatment of Glu-GNPs with a series of concentrations, we used the MTT and clonogenic assays to confirm the radiation enhancement effect of Glu-GNPs on MDA-MB-231 cells. The cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry to further explore the mechanisms of enhanced radiosensitivity of Glu-GNPs.

Results

TEM showed that Glu-GNPs are mainly distributed in the cytoplasm of cells, including endosomes and lysosomes. ICP-AES indicates that MDA-MB-231 cells absorb more 49-nm Glu-GNPs than 16-nm Glu-GNPs in number (P < 0.05). Glu-GNPs have little cytotoxicity toward MDA-MB-231 cells with a concentration below 20 nM. In the clonogenic assay, the combination of Glu-GNPs with radiation induced a significant growth inhibition, compared with radiation alone (P < 0.05). Moreover 49-nm Glu-GNPs induced much greater radiation effects than 16-nm Glu-GNPs (P < 0.05). Flow cytometry shows that Glu-GNPs can help radiation arrest more cells in the G2/M phase, with greater effect with 49-nm Glu-GNPs than 16-nm Glu-GNPs.

Conclusions

Glu-GNPs can increase the cytotoxicity of radiation toward MDA-MB-231 cells, probably by regulating the distribution of the cell cycle, with more cells in the G2/M phase. The effect of radiation enhancement may be related to the quantities of Glu-GNPs in the cells.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Laboratory of Hemotology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University. The authors are grateful for the support of Prof. Dairong Chen (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University), for providing instrument and material along with suggestions during the preparation of Glu-GNPs

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Oncology, Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Cuihong Wang & Yuhua Jiang

  2. People’s Hospital of Rizhao, Rizhao, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaohong Li

  3. Department of Radiation Therapy, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 107, Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Likuan Hu

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  1. Cuihong Wang
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  2. Yuhua Jiang
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  3. Xiaohong Li
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  4. Likuan Hu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Likuan Hu.

Additional information

Cuihong Wang and Yuhua Jiang contributed to this work equally.

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Wang, C., Jiang, Y., Li, X. et al. Thioglucose-bound gold nanoparticles increase the radiosensitivity of a triple-negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). Breast Cancer 22, 413–420 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-013-0496-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-013-0496-9

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