Influence of polycrystalline MoS2 nanoflowers on mouse breast cancer cell proliferation via molten salt sintering

Abstract

In this paper, polycrystalline molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoflowers were prepared by mixing ammonium molybdate tetrahydrate [(NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O] and potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) at 300 °C for 2 h via molten salt sintering method. Under scanning electron microscope (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), MoS2 showed popcorn-like shape, which surface distribution defects were easy to be further modified. MoS2 as a nano-enzyme was used to inhibit the proliferation of mouse breast cancer cells (4 T1), which had 69.8 % inhibitory effect on 4 T1 cell proliferation. Electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis showed that MoS2 could produce a large number of stable hydroxyl radicals (–OH). The disulfide bond in MoS2 was highly sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS). High ROS level leads to the death of cancer cells under oxidative stress and inhibits the proliferation of 4 T1. This work demonstrates that MoS2 is a potential anticancer drug or carrier for cancer treatment.