Cerium oxide nanoparticles have been proposed as an anticancer agent, thanks to
their ability of tuning the redox activity in accordance to different conditions, which lead
to selective roles on healthy and cancer cells. Recent evidence suggested the ability of these
nanoparticles to be toxic against cancer cells, while confer protection from oxidative stress,
toward healthy cells. The main focus of this study was to determine the ultrastructural
effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles over multiple incubation time of 1, 3, and 7 days on
breast healthy and cancer cells. Cellular characterizations were carried out using electron
microscopes, both transmission and scanning electron microscopes, while the viability
assessments were performed by propidium iodide and trypan blue viability assays. The
obtained results of the viability assays and electron microscopy suggested higher toxic
effects on the cancer cell line viability by using a nanoceria dose of 300 μg/mL after 1 day
of treatment. Such effects were shown to be preserved at 3 days, and in a longer time point
of 7 days. On the contrary, the healthy cells underwent less effects on their viability at time
point of 1 and 7 days. The 3 days treatment demonstrated a reduction on the number of
cells that did not correlate with an increase of the dead cells, which suggested a possible
initial decrease of the cell growth rate, which could be due to the high intracellular loading
of nanoparticles. To conclude, the overall result of this experiment suggested that 300
μg/mL of CeO2 nanoparticles is the most suitable dose, within the range and the time point
tested, which induces long-lasting cytotoxic effects in breast cancer cells, without harming
the normal cells, as highlighted by the viability assays and ultrastructural characterization
of electron microscopy analysis.
| Date of Award | Dec 2016 |
|---|
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|
| Awarding Institution | - Biological, Environmental Sciences and Engineering
|
|---|
| Supervisor | Andrea Falqui (Supervisor) |
|---|