Dual metal ion (Fe3+ and As3+) sensing and cell bioimaging using fluorescent carbon quantum dots synthesised from Cynodon dactylon.

In this study, water dispersible fluorescent carbon quantum dot (CQD) has been synthesised, having an average size of 8.6 ± 0.4 nm using Cynodon dactylon (CD) following microwave assisted green synthetic one-step method. As-prepared CQD fluoresces strongly at 444 nm having a quantum yield of 1% in water when excited at 350 nm. This fluorescence of CQD is sensitive toward As3+ and Fe3+ metal ions. These CQD are utilized for dual metal ion fluorescence sensing; turn-on fluorescence sensing for As3+ and turn-off fluorescence sensing for Fe3+ ions. Limit of detection for As3+ and Fe3+ ions has been found to be 19 nM and 0.10 µM respectively, which is the lowest value reported for As3+ without any functionalization. The adsorption kinetics of As3+ and Fe3+ ions on CQD have been examined using pseudo-first-order-kinetic model revealing that physical adsorption is dominant over chemical processes in this work. For 0.41 g/L and 1.90 g/L dose of CQD, the equilibrium adsorption capacity was found to be 1.57 × 10-6 mg/g, 2.91 × 10-7 mg/g, and 1.01 × 10-5 mg/g, 1.69 × 10-6 mg/g respectively for As3+ and Fe3+ ions. Despite having low quantum yield in water, as-prepared CQD showed low cytotoxicity and good tolerance against photodegradation of biological cells at concentrations lower than 62.5 µg/mL and when the cells are illuminated up to 12 h. Owing to this, the synthesised CQD have been utilized as fluorescent probes for in itro cell imaging.

Aqueous Extract of Anticancer Drug CRUEL Herbomineral Formulation Capsules Exerts Anti-proliferative Effects in Renal Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines.

PURPOSE: Anti-cancer activity evaluation of aqueous extract of CRUEL (herbomineral formulation) capsules on renal cell carcinoma cell lines, and exploration of mechanisms of cell death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To detect the cytotoxic dose concentration in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells, MTT assays were performed and morphological changes after treatment were observed by inverted microscopy. Drug effects against RCC cell lines were assessed with reference to cell cycle distribution (flow cytometry), anti-metastatic potential (wound healing assay) and autophagy(RT-PCR). RESULTS: CRUEL showed anti-proliferative effects against RCC tumor cell lines with an IC50 value of approximately 4mg/mL in vitro, while inducing cell cycle arrest at S-phase of the cell cycle and inhibiting wound healing. LC3 was found to be up-regulated after drug treatment by RT-PCR resulting in an autophagy mode of cell death. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides experimental validation for antitumor activity of CRUEL.

Asparagus racemosus leaf extract inhibits growth of UOK 146 renal cell carcinoma cell line: simultaneous oncogenic PRCCTFE3 fusion transcript inhibition and apoptosis independent cell death.

AIMS: To evaluate anti-cancer activity of Asparagus racemosus (AR) leaf extract on UOK146, a renal cell carcinoma cell line, and explore its mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dried AR leaves were extracted with chloroform and dissolved in DMSO. This extract was applied to UOK146 and cell death was estimated by MTT assay. In addition PRCC-TFE3 fusion transcripts were detected by real time PCR. RESULTS: Extract was found to be cytotoxic with an IC50 of 0.9 mg/ml as estimated by dose response curve. Antitumor activity of the permissible doses of the extract was assessed by the down regulation of PRCC-TFE3 fusion transcript (38%) responsible for oncogenicity of the UOK146 cell line. No increment in the BAX, a proapoptotic marker level was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of antiproliferative effect, PRCC-TFE3 fusion transcript inhibition and static BAX level clearly indicate that AR extract provides or elicits an apoptosis independent anticancer effect on RCC cells by some specific mechanism of regulation.