The green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticle as a novel natural apoptosis inducer in human breast (MCF7 and MDA-MB231) and colon (HT-29) cancer cells
Seyed Hosein Boskabadi, Saeideh Zafar Balanezhad, Ali Neamati, Masoud Homayouni Tabrizi
Abstract
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) have been widely applied as an efficient anticancer instrument. In the current study, we aimed to green-synthesize ZnONPs to investigate its antitumor impacts on the human breast (MCF7 and MDA-MB231) and colon (HT-29) cancer cell lines. They were synthesized using the Ferula assa-foetida and characterized by the XRD, FTIR, TEM, and SEM techniques subsequently. Then, their cytotoxic impacts were studied on cancer (MCF7, MDA-MB231, and HT-29) and normal (Huvec) cell lines. Also, the apoptotic and antioxidant activities of the nanoparticles were detected and verified. The ∼40-nm ZnONPs significantly induce the cell-selective cytotoxic and apoptotic (BAX overexpression, Sub G1 peaks enhancement, and fluorescent stained apoptotic cells) impacts. The findings suggest the novel biocompatible ZnONPs can be useful as a safe natural apoptosis inducer in human breast and colon cancer cells. However, further genes’ expression and cell lines are required to verify its cell-selective antitumor activity.