The effect of copper nanoparticles on the progression of tumor in vivo.

Abstract

3084 Background: The study of the anticancer activity of copper nanoparticles (CuNP) measuring 70-75 nm in rats transplantable tumors. Methods: Experiments were carried out on white outbreed male rats with transplanted sarcoma 45 (9.10-dimethyl-1.2-benzanthracene-induced fusiform cell fibrosarcoma, S-45) and Pliss’s lymphosarcoma (Pliss). 0.5 ml of tumor tissue suspension (1x106 cells) in saline was inoculated subcutaneously in rat dorsal region for induction of sarcoma 45 or Pliss's lymphosarcoma. 7-8 days after tumors transplantation the animals were divided into three groups. Group 1: control (rats received 0.3 ml of saline only). Group 2: CuNP in 0.9% w/v of NaCl were injected intratumorally (1.25 mg/kg bodyweight). Group 3: The same amount of CuNP was injected intraperitonially. Animals received nanoparticles four times a week for one week, then after a week's break, the procedure was repeated. The associated nanoparticles are spherical in shape and have an oxide film on its surface. CuNP effect on tumor growth was determined by the mass (M) and size (V) of tumors. Results: The analysis of the received data showed that administration of CuNP to rats with S-45 caused reduced growth rates or cases with complete regression (8 of 17 cases) in 67.0% of experimental animals independently of injection way (V=0.81±0.3 cm3, M=0.91±0.3 g). The other 33% of rats with S-45 showed tumor growth (V=7.58±1.3 cm3, M=9.2±1.6 g). Overall, for the entire group of animals with S-45, nanoparticles inhibited tumor growth of 45%. In the control group there was an increase of tumor growth (V=9.0±1.8 cm3, M=10.4±2.5 g). CuNP introduction to animals with Pliss caused a delay in tumor growth and partial or complete regression (12 of 28 eight cases) in 40.0-48.0% of the rats in the route of Cu injection (V=1.4±0.8 cm3, M=10.4±2.5g). Observation of the remaining animals revealed tumor growth (V=60.6±5.93 cm3, M=67.13±8.7 g). In the whole group tumor growth inhibition was 50.0%. In the control group we observed increase of tumor growth (V=62.1±5.21 cm3, M=75.9±8.2 g). Conclusions: Thus the study showed that the copper nanoparticles possess antiproliferative activity, can inhibit the growth of transplanted tumors in rats and may be potentially used in anticancer medical therapy.