Molecular study on the potential therapeutic effect of novel nanocompsite on cancerous tumor bearing mice

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Qalioubeya, Egypt

Abstract

Nanoparticles are making significant contributions to the development of new approaches of drug
delivery in cancer and can provide a platform for combined therapeutics with subsequent monitoring of
response. Basic curcumin and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocompsite modified with vitamin C and CTAB have
been exert chemopreventative activity against cancer in mice animal model. This study was carried out
on 80 mice and were divided into four groups, each groups have (20 mice) Group 1: NTBM (Negative
control) .Group 2: TBM- (Positive control). Group 3: NTBM-treated with nanocompsite orally (1.850
g/kg /day) for 6 weeks. Group 4: TBM-treated with nanocompsite orally (1.850 g/kg /day) for 6 weeks.
Liver tissues sample were collected from all mice by decapitation after 2, 4 and 6 weeks from the onset
of treatment, then obtained in dry and clean tubes then kept in a deep freeze at -20 oC and processed,
total RNA isolation and quantitative real time PCR analysis for apoptotic marker (P53- gene expression),
apoptotic DNA ladder assay and estimation of protein. We observed that nanocompsite have distinct
effects on liver cell viability via killing cancer cells, while posing no effect on normal cells
(hepatocytes). The marked difference in cytotoxicity between cancer cells and normal cells suggests an
exciting potential for nanocompsite as novel alternatives to cancer therapy. Our molecular data showed
that both mRNA and protein levels of tumor suppressor gene p53 were upregulated and induce activity
of DNA fragmentation in liver cells.

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