Silver nanocrystals sensitize magnetic-nanoparticle-mediated thermo-induced killing of cancer cells

Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai). 2011 Apr;43(4):316-23. doi: 10.1093/abbs/gmr015. Epub 2011 Mar 3.

Abstract

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) can heat up tumor tissues and induce killing of cancer cells under external AC magnetic field. However, magnetic nanoparticles hyperthermia (MNPH) requires high concentration of MNPs that are injected into the tumor in order to obtain clinically needed thermal dose because of the complicated heat transfer in vivo and the limited heat quality of MNPs. To cut down the dose of MNPs and enhance the effect of this Nanotherapy, we prepared silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with different sizes and investigated the effects of these AgNPs on cancer cells in MNPH treatment. It was found that AgNPs could enhance thermo-sensitivity of glioma cells and this effect was size dependent. AgNPs could induce cell cycles arrested in G(2)/M phase and enhanced the apoptosis rate of cancer cells after hyperthermia. In glioma bearing rats model, MNPH combined with AgNPs could enhance Bax expression in cancer cells. Our results suggested that AgNPs could be a potential thermo-sensitizer and could be further developed for the design of Ag nanostructure-based thermal seeds for MNPH therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Glioma / metabolism
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Glioma / therapy*
  • Hot Temperature
  • Humans
  • Hyperthermia, Induced / methods
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / therapeutic use*
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles / therapeutic use*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Particle Size
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Silver / chemistry*
  • Tumor Burden
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays / methods
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Magnetite Nanoparticles
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • Silver