Bismuth oxide nanoparticles induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells

Abstract

Metal nanomaterials such as bismuth oxide nanoparticles (Bi 2 O 3 NPs) have been extensively used in cosmetics, dental materials, pulp capping, and biomedical imaging. There is little knowledge about the health risk of Bi 2 O 3 NPs in humans, which warrants a thorough toxicity investigation of Bi 2 O 3 NPs at the cellular level. In this experiment, we investigated the cytotoxic effect of Bi 2 O 3 NPs on human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells over 24 and 48 h. MCF-7 cells were exposed to Bi 2 O 3 NPs at varying doses (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5, 10, 20, 40 μg/mL) for 24 and 48 h. We assessed the toxicity of Bi 2 O 3 NPs by measuring its effect on the viability and oxidative stress biomarkers, e.g., GSH, SOD, and catalase in MCF-7 cells. The pro-apoptotic effects of Bi 2 O 3 NPs on MCF-7 cells were determined via evaluating dysfunction of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), caspase-3 activity, externalization of phosphatidylserine, and chromosome condensation. Furthermore, apoptotic cells were evaluated using 7-AAD fluorescence stain and Annexin V-FITC. Bi 2 O 3 NPs induced oxidative stress in MCF-7 cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner. Bi 2 O 3 NPs increased the rate of both necrotic cells and apoptotic cells. In addition, the blue fluorescence of MCF-7 cells with condensed chromatin was increased in a time-and dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, the present study highlights the potential toxic effects of Bi 2 O 3 NPs at the cellular level and suggests further investigation of Bi 2 O 3 NPs before any medical purposes.

Comparison of Anticancer Activity of Dorycnium pentaphyllum Extract on MCF-7 and MCF-12A Cell Line: Correlation with Invasion and Adhesion

“…On the other hand, the second one is that poorly differentiated carcinomas are characterized by a more amorphous tissue structure, with fewer cell-to-cell junctions, thus resulting in more highly invasive [ 44 ]. In our study, 48 h application of the extract decreased (%) cell adhesion of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, thus further strengthening the importance of herbal extracts as sources of antiproliferative biomolecules against breast cancer [ 44 , 45 , 46 ].…”

“…Conversely, the GSH levels tend to decrease following extract treatment. Collectively, these findings showed pro-oxidant effects in MCF-7 cells, thus suggesting that the antiproliferative effects induced by the extract in this cell line could be the result of increased oxidative stress [ 45 ]. However, the pro-oxidant effect induced by the extract is contrasting with our previous observations of intrinsic/scavenging effects [ 24 ].…”

Sestrin2 in cancer: a foe or a friend?

“…An adequate amount of ROS is essential for tumor cell cycle progression and proliferation [ 24 ]. Although, several chemotherapeutic agents can severely activate oxidative stress which results in cancer cells apoptosis [ 25 – 27 ]. Intriguingly, tumor cells can develop mechanisms to attenuate oxidative stress induced by chemotherapeutic agents.…”

Micro- and Nanosized Substances Cause Different Autophagy-Related Responses

“…Bismuth nanoparticles induce autophagy markers, such as LC3, Beclin 1, and Atg12, resulting in nephrotoxicity in the human embryonic kidney 293 cell line and kidney of BALB/c mice [ 206 ]. Bismuth nanoparticles also induce oxidative stress, such as GSH, SOD, and catalase, and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells (human breast carcinoma cells) [ 207 ]. Bismuth sulfide nanoparticles inhibit the migration and invasion in HepG2 cells and induce autophagy markers, such as p62 [ 208 ].…”