Experimental Study of As2O3 Nanoparticles in the Therapy of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Abstract

4302 This paper explores the preparation of As2O3 nanoparticles and examines their antitumor effects on NB4 cells. As2O3 nanoparticles were prepared using the sol-gel method and characterized by transmission election microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The results indicated that As2O3 nanoparticles prepared in our study were round or elliptical, well dispersed, and about 40 nm or less than 10 nm in diameter. The antitumor effects of As2O3 nanoparticles at various concentrations were analyzed by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and flow cytometry (FCM) and were compared with those of traditional As2O3 solution. At the same concentration and incubation time (48 h), the survival rate of cells treated with As2O3 nanoparticles was significantly lower than that of cells treated with As2O3 solution. The inhibition rate under both treatments was time- and dose-dependent. In addition, at the some concentration and incubation time, the apoptosis ratio of cells treated with As2O3 nanoparticles was significantly higher than that of cells treated with As2O3 solution. Furthermore, As2O3 nanoparticles resulted in a greater reduction in the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 compared with As2O3 solution. In conclusion, AS2O3 nanoparticles, prepared by sol-gel method, produce a stronger cytotoxic effect on tumor cells than As2O3 solution, possibly through inhibiting Bcl-2 expression. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.