The Co(OH)2@Glu‐TSC nanoflakes enhance the apoptosis in hepatoma G2 cell

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of cobalt hydroxide nanoparticles conjugated with glutamic acid and thiosemicarbazides (Co(OH)2@Glu‐TSC) on Hepatoma G2 (HpG2) cancer cell lines. The effect of different concentrations of Co(OH)2@Glu‐TSC nanoparticles on the growth of Human Embryonic Kidney‐293 (HEK‐293) normal cells and HpG2 cancer cells was evaluated. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of Co(OH)2@Glu‐TSC nanoparticle on HEK‐293 and HepG2 was 701.65 μg/ml and 133.62 μg/ml, respectively. The percentage of HpG2 living cells in untreated group was significantly higher than that in Co(OH)2@Glu‐TSC‐treated group (95.5 vs. 59.5%; p < .001). Dot plots of Annexin V/PI staining showed a 15.3% early‐stage apoptosis and a 15.3% late‐stage apoptosis in Co(OH)2@Glu‐TSC‐treated cells. Untreated cancer cells exhibited 2.83% early‐stage apoptosis and a 0.23% late‐stage apoptosis. Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species in Co(OH)2@Glu‐TSC‐treated cells (2,342) was significantly higher than that in untreated cells (2,342 vs. 707; p < .001). The mean expression of Caspase 3, maternally expressed gene 3, and P53 genes were significantly higher in Co(OH)2@Glu‐TSC‐treated cancer cells compared to untreated cancer cells. Co(OH)2@Glu‐TSC nanoparticle has a high cytotoxic effect on cancer cells which is possibly mediated by the induction of overproduction of reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, and overexpression of apoptotic genes.