Comparison of the effect of diode low-level laser (808 nm) and gold nanoparticles on the proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Introduction Photothermal treatment using gold nanoparticles is able to cause selective necrosis on cell surfaces. In this study, we investigated the effect of low-power 808 diode lasers and gold nanoparticles on the proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Materials and methods In this laboratory study, the investigated cells included two cell lines: healthy HuGu (human gum fibroblast) and Hn5 (head and neck cancer cells), which were obtained from the Pasteur Institute. Each of the healthy and cancer cells was examined in 4 treatments (1- no intervention, 2- gold nanoparticles with different concentrations, 3- 808nm diode laser radiation, 4- gold nanoparticles, and then 808nm diode laser). To evaluate the proliferation rate, cell culture and cell counting methods were used. The number of live cells was counted at four times, before any intervention and 24, 48, and 72 hours after the intervention, by MTT method. Changes in the number of cell nuclei in the samples were performed using the DAPI test method on two cell lines (HuGu and Hn5). After performing each of the mentioned interventions, the number of living cells was checked by trypan blue. The data obtained from the study were analyzed by SPSS24 software using descriptive methods and Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Results In cancer cells, diode laser had a greater effect than gold nanoparticles in reducing proliferation. In reducing survival, the effect of laser and gold nanoparticles was similar. The combined use of these two agents caused a significant decrease in cell viability compared to the single use of these agents. In healthy cells, the effect of nanoparticles on both proliferation and survival was greater than that of laser. Laser irradiation with gold nanoparticles increased proliferation compared to gold nanoparticles alone. The performance of nanoparticles in reducing survival was also higher than that of laser.

Conclusion The combined use of laser and gold nanoparticles can be a suitable treatment option for oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.