Inorganic nanoparticles restrict viability of metastatic breast cancer cells in vitro

Abstract

Available cancer therapies are limited due to undesirable side effects, non-specific cellular toxicity as well as treatment failure. Therefore, there is urgent need for newer treatment strategies. In this study, we comparatively determined the in vitro anti-cancer potential of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells. Flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays were employed to probe likely mechanism of anti-cancer action of NPs. Study demonstrated dose-dependent toxicity of NPs to MDA-MB-231 cells. The NPs promoted production of ROS and might have caused early apoptotic clearance of MDA-MB-231 cells. Considered together, the findings support anti-cancer potential of inorganic NPs. Furthermore, preliminary evidence suggests that the anti-cancer potential of these NPs may be linked with capacity to cause ROS production as well as cellular apoptosis. Further studies to clearly define the mechanistic cellular actions of these nanoparticles are warranted.