Evaluation of radiation sensitization effects of zinc nanoparticles coated with dexorubicin-conjugated alginate on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line

Abstract

Breast cancer is a global public health problem and one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The main treatments for breast cancer are chemotherapy and radiothrtapy, that each treatment will bring different side effects. New and targeted methods, such as chemo-radiotherapy by designing a nanostructure that can both increase the effects of the drug and improve the effect of radiotherapy, can play a useful role in increasing the efficiency of the treatment and reducing the side effects of each of the methods. The aim of this study is to synthesize and investigate the effect of zinc nanoparticles coated with alginate conjugated with Doxorubicin drug on MDA-MB-231 triple negative breast cancer cell line. Method and materials: Zinc nanoparticles coated with alginate were synthesized and conjugated to Doxorubicin by covalent bonding. DLS, TEM, FESEM, EDX, UV-Vis, FT-IR techniques, which are respectively used to investigate the average hydrodynamic size and surface charge of nanoparticles, particle size and morphology, percentage of metal elements used in the nanostructure, optical properties and interaction The compounds forming the designed nanostructure are used. On the other hand, hemolysis test was used to check blood biocompatibility. The anti-cancer effects and increased radiosensitivity of the synthesized nanostructures were tested by cell uptake, cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle and scratch repair in both conditions with and without radiation. Result: The physicochemical properties of the synthesized nanostructures showed that the synthesis of nanostructures was successfully carried out. The results obtained from the cell absorption assay show the effective absorption of nanostructures by MDA-MB-231 cells. The Zn@Alg-Dox NPs nanostructure significantly reduced cell growth, reduced cell migration, increased apoptosis, and led to the arrest of cell cycle phases in both conditions with and without X-ray exposure.