The development of folate-functionalised palladium nanoparticles for folate receptor targeting in breast cancer cells

Sendibitiyosi Gandidzanwa; Natasha Beukes; Sinelizwi V Joseph; Arno Janse Van Vuuren; Philani Mashazi; Jonathan Britton; Gareth Kilian; Saartjie Roux; Tebello Nyokong; Michael E Lee; Carminita L Frost; Zenixole R Tshentu

doi:10.1088/1361-6528/acec52

The development of folate-functionalised palladium nanoparticles for folate receptor targeting in breast cancer cells

Nanotechnology. 2023 Aug 29;34(46). doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/acec52.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6001, South Africa.
² Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6001, South Africa.
³ Center for High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6001, South Africa.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6140, South Africa.
⁵ Institute of Nanotechnology Innovation, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6140, South Africa.
⁶ Department of Pharmacy, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6001, South Africa.
⁷ Department of Human Physiology, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6001, South Africa.

PMID: 37527629
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/acec52

Abstract

Folate receptor-targeted therapy has excellent prospects for the treatment of breast cancer. A non-toxic concentration of folate-conjugated palladium-based nanoparticles was used to target the overexpressed folate receptor on breast cancer cells. The folate-conjugated nanoparticles were tailored to accumulate selectively in cancer cells relative to normal cells via the folate receptor. The MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines, and MCF-10A normal cell lines were used in the study. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of nanoparticle cellular uptake and accumulation was conducted using transmission electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. The findings proved that folate-conjugated palladium nanoparticles successfully and preferentially accumulated in breast cancer cells. We conclude that folate-conjugated palladium nanoparticles can be potentially used to target breast cancer cells for radiopharmaceutical applications.

Keywords: breast cell lines; folate receptor; folate-functionalisation; palladium nanoparticles.

MeSH terms

Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Breast Neoplasms* / metabolism
Cell Line, Tumor
Female
Folic Acid / chemistry
Humans
MCF-7 Cells
Metal Nanoparticles* / chemistry
Nanoparticles* / chemistry
Palladium / pharmacology

Substances

Palladium
Folic Acid