Palladium Nanoparticles Functionalized with PVP-Quercetin Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Activates Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Abstract

Nanotechnology is focused on the development and application of novel nanomaterials with particular physicochemical properties. Palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) have been used as antimicrobials, antifungals, and photochemicals and for catalytic activity in dye reduction. In the present investigation, we developed and characterized PdNPs as a carrier of quercetin and initiated a study of its effects in colorectal cancer cells. PdNPs were first functionalized with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and then coupled to quercetin (PdNPs-PVP-Q). Our results showed that quercetin was efficiently incorporated to PdNPs-PVP, as demonstrated using UV/Vis and FT-IR spectroscopy. Using transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrated a reduction in size from 3–14.47 nm of PdNPs alone to 1.8–7.4 nm of PdNPs-PVP and to 2.12–3.14 of PdNPs-PVP-Q, indicating an increase in superficial area in functionalized PdNPs-Q. Moreover, hydrodynamic size studies using dynamic light scattering showed a reduction in size from 2120.33 nm ± 112.53 with PdNPs alone to 129.96 nm ± 6.23 for PdNPs-PVP-Q, suggesting a major reactivity when quercetin is coupled to nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction assays show that the addition of PVP or quercetin to PdNPs does not influence the crystallinity state. Catalytic activity assays of PdNPs-PVP-Q evidenced the chemical reduction of 4-nitrophenol, methyl orange, and methyl blue, thus confirming an electron acceptor capacity of nanoparticles. Finally, biological activity studies using MTT assays showed a significant inhibition (p < 0.05) of cell proliferation of HCT-15 colorectal cancer cells exposed to PdNPs-PVP-Q in comparison to untreated cells. Moreover, treatment with PdNPs-PVP-Q resulted in the apoptosis activation of HCT-15 cells. In conclusion, here we show for the first time the development of PdNPs-PVP-Q and evidence its biological activities through the inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis activation in colorectal cancer cells in vitro.

Metal‐based nanomaterials and nanocomposites as promising frontier in cancer chemotherapy

“… 105 When compared to other bacterial strains, Escherichia coli , PdNPs demonstrated a high level of growth inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus , indicating that they are useful against antibacterial agents, especially for gram‐positive bacteria. 106 PdNPs mesoporous silica‐supported NMs were found to have moderately enhanced cytotoxic activity against human cancer cells. 107 Against the ovarian cancer cells, PdNPs decrease the cell viability, increasing LDH leakage, 108 enhancement of ROS generation, activation of autophagy, and cell death, with enhanced caspase‐3 activity followed by DNA fragmentation demonstrated the effectiveness of in vitro toxicity.…”

Antimicrobial Resistance and Inorganic Nanoparticles

“…Sci. 2021, 22, x FOR PEER REVIEW 10 of 31 used as carrier paclitaxel and β-cyclodextrin [126] or PdNPs capping with polyvinylpyrrolidone load with quercetin [114], and Silica Core-Shell Au [127] for Cancer Therapy.…”

“…Nanotechnology currently plays a key role in scientific and technological advances in medicine and the pharmaceutical industry, this concerns the use of materials controlling their size and shape [ 2 ]. In these senses, the nanoparticles (NPs) are particulate materials on a nanometric scale that allow modifying both the physical and chemical properties of materials, as well as their morphology and size, which ranges from 1 to 100 nm [ 113 , 114 , 115 ]. The smaller and more spherical the NPs are, the greater the surface-volume ratio is achieved, which helps to enhance the chemical and biological activities of the NPs [ 116 , 117 ].…”

“…The NPs designed for in vitro applications include their use as a drug administration; in these applications, the NPs can load with different molecules as an essential oil, such as the ZnONPs have been loaded with Citronella essential oil [ 124 ] or Oxide-Silica Core-Shell with essential oil [ 125 ], both with antimicrobial activity. In addition, Fe 2 O 3 NPs have been used as carrier paclitaxel and β-cyclodextrin [ 126 ] or PdNPs capping with polyvinylpyrrolidone load with quercetin [ 114 ], and Silica Core-Shell Au [ 127 ] for Cancer Therapy.…”

Current Landscape in Organic Nanosized Materials Advances for Improved Management of Colorectal Cancer Patients

“…On the other hand, PVP can be used to stabilize and functionalize metal nanoparticles. For example, PVP-functionalized palladium nanoparticles containing incorporated quercetin have shown significant inhibition of HCT-15 colorectal cancer cell proliferation [ 177 ].…”