Efficacy of copper nanoparticles encapsulated in soya lecithin liposomes in treating breast cancer cells (MCF-7) in vitro.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death, which has attracted the attention of the scientific world to the search for efficient methods for treatment. With the great development and regeneration of nanotechnology over the last 25 years, various nanoparticles in different structures, shapes and composites provide good potential for cancer therapy. There are several drugs approved by FDA used in breast cancer treatment like Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin Hydrochloride, Femara, Herceptin, etc. Each has several side effects as well as treatment, which limits the use of drugs due to heart failure, pulmonary dysfunction, or immunodeficiency. Recently, such side effects are greatly reduced by using innovative delivery techniques. Some drugs have been approved for use in cancer treatment under the concept of drug delivery, such as Doxil (liposomal loaded doxorubicin). The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) as a drug model for cancer treatment, either in their free form or encapsulated in Soy lecithin liposomes (SLP) from plant origin as a cheap source of lipids. CuNPs were prepared by the chemical reduction method and loaded onto SLP through the thin film hydration method. The drug model Cu/SLP was successfully combined. The characteristics of the free CuNPs, liposomes, and the combined form, zeta potential, size distribution, drug encapsulation efficiency (EE%), drug release profile, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were checked, followed by an in vitro study on the breast cancer cell line Mcf-7 as a model for cytotoxicity evaluation. The optimal Cu/SLP had a particle mean size of 81.59 ± 14.93 nm, a negative zeta potential of - 50.7 ± 4.34 mV, loaded CuNPs showed an EE% of 78.9%, a drug release profile for about 50% of the drug was released after 6 h, and FTIR analysis was recorded. The cytotoxicity assay showed that the IC50 of Cu/SLP is smaller than that of free CuNPs. These results give clear evidence of the efficacy of using the combined Cu/SLP rather than CuNPs alone as a model drug carrier prepared from plant origin against cancer, both medically and economically.

Evaluation of Human Wharton's Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Conditioning Medium (hWJ-MSCs-CM) or Scorpion Venom Breast Cancer Cell Line In Vitro.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to evaluate the anticancer potential of Egyptian scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus venom (ScV) or human Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells conditioning medium (hWJ-MSCs-CM)/CM against breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line as an alternative effective cancer biotherapy. METHODS: Venom (ScV) toxicity was performed recording concentration-dependent viability % and ScV IC50 value was in the order of 100 µg/ml. MCF-7 were treated with hWJ-MSCs-CM used as (25%, 50%, and 75% ml) or the IC50 of ScV. Apoptotic activity was traced via evaluation the apoptotic (Bax, Casp-3, and Casp-9) and anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl2, ALDOA, and PKM2) profile. RESULTS: Both Bax and Casp-3 showed a significant upregulation while anti-apoptotic genes were significantly downregulated. In the meantime, Casp-3 and Casp-9 protein were monitored using ELISA, and their level was less than in control. Additionally, MCF-7 apoptosis was monitored using flow cytometry recording a significant DNA accumulation in the G0-G1 and S phases in case of cell treatment with ScV or CM75% ml and 50% ml. Also, there was a significant total necrotic cells % compared with control cells, and total apoptosis under the effect of ScV or CM75% ml was significantly elevated than rest of treatment. CONCLUSION: Apoptosis induction was both dose- and time-dependent for hWJ-MSCs-CM and ScV. According to the present study and other studies, there is an ample evidence that hWJ-MSCs-CM and the venom IC50 abolish tumor growth.

Reversible and fast association equilibria of a molecular chaperone, gp57A, of bacteriophage T4.

The association of a molecular chaperone, gp57A, of bacteriophage T4, which facilitates formation of the long and short tail fibers, was investigated by analytical ultracentrifugation, differential scanning microcalorimetry, and stopped-flow circular dichroism (CD) to establish the association scheme of the protein. Gp57A is an oligomeric alpha-helix protein with 79 amino acids. Analysis of the sedimentation velocity data by direct boundary modeling with Lamm equation solutions together with a more detailed boundary analysis incorporating association schemes led us to conclude that at least three oligomeric species of gp57A are in reversible and fast association equilibria and that a 3(mer)-6(mer)-12(mer) model described the data best. On the other hand, differential scanning microcalorimetry revealed a highly reversible two-step transition of dissociation/denaturation, both of which accompanied decrease in CD at 222 nm. The melting curve analysis revealed that it is consistent with a 6(mer)-3(mer)-1(mer) model. The refolding/association kinetics of gp57A measured by stopped-flow CD was consistent with the interpretation that the bimolecular reaction from trimer to hexamer was preceded by a fast alpha-helix formation in the dead-time. Trimer or hexamer is likely the functional oligomeric state of gp57A.