The impact of Trastuzumab labeled Iron oxide gold core-shell nanoparticles on cytotoxicity of breast cancer cells

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the synergistic effect of Iron oxide / gold NPs with Trastuzumab monoclonal antibody in radiation therapy of SKBr-3 breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Iron oxide / gold NPs were synthesized at the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Drug Application Research Center and then the physical and chemical properties of the NPs including particle size, morphology, particle size distribution and Zeta potential using TEM microscopy, UV-visible, FT-IR and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were determined. The monoclonal antibody Trastuzumab was bound to the surface of the synthesized NPs by OPSS-PEG-SVA functional group. Subsequently, SKBr-3 treated breast cancer epithelial cells were treated with different concentrations of NPs and NPs with Trastuzumab for irradiation at doses of 2, 4 and 8 Gy with 6 and 18 MV energies transferred to radiotherapy department of Imam Reza Hospital. MTT assay, BrdU assay and Flowcyto-metry were used to determine cell viability. Results: TEM microscopy images showed an initial size of 20-30 nm for Iron oxide / gold NPs. DLS showed a size of 32.6 nm and a Zeta potential of -28.2 mV for iron oxide / gold NPs. Whereas for the NPs bound to Trastuzumab antibody the values were 67.4 nm and a Zeta potential of -41.57 mV. MTT test results showed a significant increase in cytotoxicity in cells treated with the combination of Iron oxide / gold NPs, Trastuzumab, and NPs bound to Trastuzumab compared to untreated cells (P <0.05). According to MTT, BrdU and Flow-cytometry results, the highest cell death and apoptosis in SKBr-3 cells was related to cells treated with Trastuzumab banded Iron oxide / gold NPs which irradiated with 8 Gy dose of 18 MV.