Abstract
Combination therapy remains one of the most promising and intensively developed direction in cancer treatment. This study is aimed to combine and investigate the anticancer properties of silver nanoparticles (NPs) and Amanita muscaria mushroom in gel formulation. For this, hyaluronic acid was used as gel-forming agent, whereas Amanita muscaria extract was used as capping agent during silver and ultrasmall iron oxide (MAg) NPs synthesis. Amanita muscaria compounds formed NP’s surface layer and contributed anticancer properties, whereas silver NPs contributed anticancer, fluorescence and photoactive properties to the gel. Physicochemical characterization included X-ray diffraction (XRD), microscopies (SEM, cryo-SEM, TEM, confocal fluorescence), spectrofluorometric method, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques, energy dispersive (EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopies, zeta-potential and rheological measurements. Microstructure analysis of hyaluronic acid/MAg NPs gel was performed by cryo-SEM technique. We showed that hyaluronic acid is a perfect gel-forming agent from both biomedical and technological points of view. It is well-mixed with MAg NPs forming stable gel formulation; high homogeneity of hyaluronic acid/MAg NPs gel was shown by SEM EDS elemental mapping. Microstructure of the gel was found to be highly ordered and consisted of domains from perforated parallel tubular structures. This finding expanded our understanding of gels and broke the stereotype of gel structure as chaotic network of fibers. Cytotoxicity studies performed on 2D and 3D HeLa cell cultures pointed to a high potential of hyaluronic acid/MAg NPs gel for local treatment of cancer. Cell response was found to be significantly different for 2D and 3D cell cultures that was related to their different cytoarhitecture and gene expression. Thus, the results of the cellular spheroids viability showed that they were significantly more resistant to the cytotoxic action of MAg NPs and their gel formulation than 2D cell culture. Hyaluronic acid used as gelling agent in gel formulation was found to increase an effectiveness of active components (MAg NPs, Amanita muscaria extract) probably improving their transport inside HeLa spheroids.
Highlights
Silver nanoparticles (NPs), besides their well-known antimicrobial activity, possess anticancer properties and may potentially improve therapeutic results due to its ability to enhance optical signals[3,4]
On the basis of hyaluronic acid, we developed gel formulation with iron oxide (∼2 nm) and silver (5–25 nm) NPs for local anticancer therapy
Amanita muscaria extract was used for the synthesis of MAg NPs as capping agent
Summary
Silver nanoparticles (NPs), besides their well-known antimicrobial activity, possess anticancer properties and may potentially improve therapeutic results due to its ability to enhance optical signals[3,4] (e.g., photodynamic therapy). The role of ultrasmall iron oxides (USIO) NPs is not to provide magnetic properties suitable for magnetic targeting (they are superparamagnetic) but mainly to provide highly ordered microstructure/matrix to hydrocolloid in which silver NPs are regularly distributed[9]. They may improve the contrast in magnetic resonance imaging technique, working as a T2 contrast agent[8]. The anticancer properties of MAg NPs and hyaluronic acid/MAg NPs gel as well as the contribution of Amanita muscaria extract to these properties, have been studied in vitro using 2D and 3D HeLa cells cultures and bioimaging techniques
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
