In vitro effect of hyperthermic Ag and Au Fe3O4 nanoparticles in cancer cells

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) in cancer management have gained great attention the last decade. However, research is needed regarding the targeting potential, the therapeutic effects, in vitro/vivo stability and their cytotoxic effects in order to be successfully incorporated in the clinical practice. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancerous effect of hyperthermic Fe3O4 core Αg(Au) shell NPs constructed with tryptophan as stabilizer and reducing agent. Both NPs have toxic effects after ionization, working as hyperthermic NPs. The toxic effect of hyperthermic NPs is minimized in non-cancerous HEK293 cells. We also studied the expression of hsp-70, bcl-2 and casp-3 in HEK293, HCT116, 4T1 and HUH7 cells and the expression of p53 in HEK293, HCT116 and HUH7. Our results show that Fe3O4 core Αg(Au) shell NPs induce apoptosis; 4T1 cells also undergo apoptosis via a p53-independent pathway. However, the role of tryptophan regarding the reduced toxic effects in non-cancerous cells requires further investigation.