Polyoxometalate Nanoparticles as a Potential Glioblastoma Therapeutic via Lipid-Mediated Cell Death

Abstract

Polyoxometalate nanoparticles (POMs) are a class of compounds made up of multiple transition metals linked together using oxygen atoms. POMs commonly include group 6 transition metals, with two of the most common forms using molybdenum and tungsten. POMs are suggested to exhibit antimicrobial effects. In this study, we developed two POM preparations to study anti-cancer activity. We found that Mo-POM (NH4)Mo7O24) and W-POM (H3PW12O40) have anti-cancer effects on glioblastoma cells. Both POMs induced morphological changes marked by membrane swelling and the presence of multinucleated cells that may indicate apoptosis induction along with impaired cell division. We also observed significant increases in lipid oxidation events, suggesting that POMs are redox-active and can catalyze detrimental oxidation events in glioblastoma cells. Here, we present preliminary indications that molybdenum polyoxometalate nanoparticles may act like ferrous iron to catalyze the oxidation of phospholipids. These preliminary results suggest that Mo-POMs (NH4)Mo7O24) and W-POMs (H3PW12O40) may warrant further investigation into their utility as adjunct cancer therapies.

Reactivity of metal–oxo clusters towards biomolecules: from discrete polyoxometalates to metal–organic frameworks

“…Nevertheless, a recent report has shown that (NH 4 ) 6 [Mo 7 O 24 ] can induce the peroxidation of phospholipids in the cell membranes of glioblastoma cells, which may be linked to its anti-cancer activity. 254 Therefore, the redox activity of POMs towards lipids should be explored further.…”