Aim: To prepare, physicochemically characterize and determine the anticancer effects of palladium-doped magnesia (Pd/MgO) nanoparticles. Materials & methods: Pd/MgO nanoparticles were prepared by the co-precipitation method from the aqueous solution of Mg(NO3)2.6H2O using K2CO3 and the impregnation of MgO into palladium acetylacetonate. Results: Pd/MgO nanoparticles were between 47 and 70 nm in size, cuboid in shape, and tended to form aggregates. Nanoparticles were more antiproliferative toward cancer than the normal cells. In cancer cells, Pd/MgO nanoparticles induced apoptosis by increasing caspase activities and stimulating cytochrome C release. The anticancer effects of Pd/MgO nanoparticles were accentuated by the upregulation of Bax and p53 and downregulation of Bcl-2 protein expressions. Conclusion: Pd/MgO nanoparticles have potential to be developed as an anticancer compound.
Keywords: apoptosis; cytotoxicity; mitochondrial pathway; noble metals; palladium-doped magnesia nanoparticles.