Study on the impact of the drug (doxorubicin)-loaded platelet microparticles on cancer cells; the Daudi and Vero cell lines

Abstract

Platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs) may be used as drug carriers for cancer treatments. Doxorubicin with fluorescent properties as a chemotherapeutic drug is available to treat many cancers. This study aims to compare different drug loading methods into PMPs and evaluate their effects on the viability and apoptosis of cancer cells. The platelet concentrates were taken from the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization. PMPs were isolated on day 5 of platelet storage, and doxorubicin was loaded into PMPs through incubation, cell-penetrating peptides (CPP), and sonication methods. The rate of drug loading into PMPs was measured by the flow cytometry method. Finally, the effect of the drug-loaded microparticles on Daudi and Vero cells was investigated by determining the survival percentage (MTT) and caspase-3 gene expression levels (Real-time PCR). The average fluorescence light calculated in each of the incubation, sonication, and CPP methods was determined to be 79.09% ± 11.37%, 47.48% ± 25.12%, and 56.69% ± 23.24%, respectively. After 48 and 72 h of treating the Vero cells with drug-loaded microparticles, the survival rate decreased, and the expression of the caspase-3 gene was increased. In Daudi cells, similar results were obtained after 72 h of treatments. Also, the incubation method provided a higher rate of drug loading into PMPs. Therefore, this method can be used for drug loading in PMPs. As a result, as drug carriers, PMPs can lower cell viability in cancer cells.