Induction of Apoptosis in MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells Using Nanoparticle-DeliveredSuicide Gene

Introduction & Aim: For the targeting delivery and reduction of side effects of drugs to treat cancer, many types of delivery methods are applied today. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are more considered due to their mechanical, electrical and magnetic properties.Methods: In this study, due to the drug resistance of cancer cells, we usedthe CNTs as a vehicle for transferring the inducible caspase-9 (iCasp9) suicide gene into breast cancer cellsto induce apoptosis. With this aim, a recombinant plasmid containing iCasp9 genewas constructed. Firstly, the conjugation of the plasmid to the CNTs was assessed using gel electrophoresis then the amount of this connectivity was studied via UV-visible absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy so the best ratio of plasmid/CNT was chosen. The cytotoxicity of various concentrations of the CNTson MCF-7 cell lineswas examined using MTT assay. Afterward, the cells were exposed to the prepared complex of plasmid/CNT. The expression of the recombinant genewasdetermined using fluorescence microscopy, and then the rate of cell death was measured using FITC annexinV/PI apoptosis detection kit.Results: The results illustrate that the applied CNTs have a high capacity to carry the plasmid and they conjugate to each other well. The CNTs do not have any cytotoxic effect on the MCF7 cells, inherently, but their conjugation with a suicide gene suchas iCasp9 results in high rate of apoptosis.Conclusion: Generally, we suggest the integration of the CNTs with another method of programed cell death-inducer, iCasp9 gene, as a good approachwhich can be implemented for Cancer therapy.

کلیدواژه ها:

Carbon nanotubes ، Inducible caspase9 ، Cell death ، MCF7 ، Cancer ، Gene Therapy