Effects of B2O3 (boron trioxide) on colon cancer cells: our first-step experience and in vitro results

Abstract

Boron oxide (B 2 O 3 ) is derived from dehydration of boric acid and is a colorless, semitransparent, crystalline compound that is moderately soluble in water. On the other hand, boron oxide is chemically hygroscopic. This gives the molecule the ability to soak up water and adhere to tissues. Boron oxide can be used locally after tumor debulking in inoperable tumors and especially when the tumor-free margin distance cannot be provided. For all these reasons we aimed to evaluate the in vitro test results of B 2 O 3 in terms of cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, apoptosis, and necrotic effects on L929 fibroblast cells and DLD-1 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. Our studies demonstrated that boron oxide compounds appear to be highly cytotoxic for both cell lines according to WST cell viability assay (44.22% and 18.36% on DLD-1 and L929, respectively). Although no genotoxic effects were observed, boron oxide compounds showed antiproliferative effects for both cell lines. The prepared boron oxide compounds may hold the potential to be applied locally to the remaining tissue after surgery and further research and evaluation will be needed to determine its effectiveness.

Combination effect of cold atmospheric plasma with green synthesized zero-valent iron nanoparticles in the treatment of melanoma cancer model

“…Although it is better that the target cells have the same origin, but since fibroblasts have many characteristics in the tumor microenvironment, in this study, L929 cells were used as a control, and according to ATCC1 ANIMAL CELL CULTURE LINE, these cells are mouse dermal fibroblasts. These cells were widely used as normal cells in many cancer studies for comparing metabolic activity of the target cells [55][56][57][58][59]. Fibroblasts are the principal stromal cells that exist in the whole body and are widely distributed throughout the organs…”

Exposure to boron trioxide nanoparticles and ions cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, and phenotypic alterations in Drosophila melanogaster as an in vivo model

“…There is just one study focused on the effects of B 2 O 3 in colon cancer cells in the literature (Albuz et al, 2019). Therefore, our study (Strawn et al, 2006), and since then, a great number of studies have been conducted with different types of NPinduced toxicity (Baeg et al, 2018;Demir, 2020;Priyadarsini et al, 2019).…”

“…Induced ROS levels trigger inflammation response and DNA and protein damage (Cui et al, 2010;Ng et al, 2017) Several studies concerning boron compounds have revealed that some boron compounds showed genotoxic effects in GADD45a assay (Scott & Walmsley, 2015) and DNA strand breaks (Emanet et al, 2015). On the other hand, B 2 O 3 was investigated for the induction of micronuclei formation in ovary cells of Chinese hamsters; however, no such effect was found (Albuz et al, 2019).…”

“…Even though a number of in vitro and in vivo studies have been carried out with boron‐containing materials (boron, boric acid, boron nitride nanotubes [BNNTs], and borax) in order to investigate their cytotoxic (Ciaravino et al, 2013; Hadrup et al, 2021; NTP, 1987; O'Donovan et al, 2011), genotoxic (Turkez et al, 2012), antigenotoxic (Demir & Marcos, 2018; Sarıkaya et al, 2016), and their hazardous effects on survival, development, and behavior (Hadrup et al, 2021; Santos et al, 2021), there has been no research to focus only on the biological effects of B 2 O 3 in non‐target organisms. There is just one study focused on the effects of B 2 O 3 in colon cancer cells in the literature (Albuz et al, 2019). Therefore, our study addressed the organismal and cellular effects with B 2 O 3 NPs and its ionic form toxicity in a versatile model, D. melanogaster , using different aspects.…”

“…Several studies concerning boron compounds have revealed that some boron compounds showed genotoxic effects in GADD45a assay (Scott & Walmsley, 2015) and DNA strand breaks (Emanet et al, 2015). On the other hand, B 2 O 3 was investigated for the induction of micronuclei formation in ovary cells of Chinese hamsters; however, no such effect was found (Albuz et al, 2019). BNNTs were proved to be genotoxic upon exposure to low concentrations only as revealed by comet assays performed on bone marrow CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells, whereas these nanotubes caused hazardous effects in HeLa and V79 cells at nearly all exposure levels (Çal & Bucurgat, 2019).…”