In Situ Gelation-Induced Death of Cancer Cells Based on Proteinosomes

Biomacromolecules. 2017 Aug 14;18(8):2446-2453. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b00598. Epub 2017 Jun 30.

Abstract

Hydrogels are an excellent type of material that can be utilized as a platform for cell culture. However, when a bulky hydrogel forms on the inside of cancer cells, the result would be different. In this study, we demonstrate a method for in situ gelation inside cancer cells that can efficiently induce cell death. Glutathione-responsive proteinosomes with good biocompatibility were prepared as carriers for sodium alginate to be endocytosed by cancer cells, where the chelation between sodium alginate and free calcium ions in the culture medium occurs during the diffusion process. The uptake of the hydrogel-loaded proteinosomes into the cancer cells, and then the triggered release of hydrogel with concomitant aggregation, was well-confirmed by monitoring the change of the Young's modulus of the cells based on AFM force measurements. Accordingly, when a large amount of hydrogel formed in cells, the cell viability would be inhibited by ∼90% by MTT assay at a concentration of 5.0 μM of hydrogel-loaded proteinosomes after 48 h incubation, which clearly proves the feasibility of the demonstrated method for killing cancer cells. Although more details regarding the mechanism of cell death should be conducted in the near future, such a demonstrated method of in situ gelation inside cells provides another choice for killing cancer cells.

MeSH terms

  • Alginates* / chemistry
  • Alginates* / pharmacokinetics
  • Alginates* / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Cattle
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Glucuronic Acid / chemistry
  • Glucuronic Acid / pharmacokinetics
  • Glucuronic Acid / pharmacology
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Hexuronic Acids / chemistry
  • Hexuronic Acids / pharmacokinetics
  • Hexuronic Acids / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels* / chemistry
  • Hydrogels* / pharmacokinetics
  • Hydrogels* / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Hydrogels
  • Glucuronic Acid