Glycated nisin enhances nisin's cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells.

Antimicrobial peptides, such as nisin, are proposed as promising agents for cancer treatment. While glycation has been recognized as an effective method for enhancing various physicochemical properties of nisin, its anticancer effects remain unexplored. Therefore, we aimed to assess the anticancer potential of glycated nisin against MDA-MB-231 cells. The MDA-MB cells were treated with increasing concentrations of nisin and glycated nisin for 24, 48, and 72 h. The IC50 values for nisin were higher than those for glycated nisin. Glycated nisin at concentrations of 20 and 40 µg/mL decreased cell viability more than nisin at the same concentrations. The rate of apoptosis in the group treated with 20 µg/mL of nisin was lower compared to other treatment groups, and no significant difference in apoptosis rates was observed at different time points (p > 0.05). However, in the glycated nisin groups with concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 µg/mL, the level of apoptosis was very high after 24 h (73-81% of cells undergoing apoptosis). Overall, our study suggests that glycated nisin exhibits stronger cytotoxic effects on MDA-MB-231 cells, primarily involving the induction of apoptosis. This indicates its potential utilization as an alternative approach to address the issue of drug resistance in cancer cells.

Apoptotic activity of Newcastle disease virus in comparison with nisin A in MDA-MB-231 cell line.

Given the development of drug-resistant cancer cells, designing alternative approaches for cancer treatment seems essential. In this study, we evaluated the anti-tumor effects of nisin A and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) on triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cell line. The MDA-MB-231 cell line was separately and in combination subjected to the different concentrations of a Vero-adapted NDV (JF820294.1) and nisin A. The oncolytic effects of these treatments were analyzed by different cytotoxic and apoptosis techniques including trypan blue staining, MTT assay, acridine orange (EB/AO) staining, colony assay and flow cytometry over time. Nisin A at doses of more than 20.00 µg mL-1 could represent the anti-viral effects and interfere with the oncolytic activity of NDV. Moreover, the analyses indicated that the anti-proliferative and cytotoxic features of combination therapy were stronger than those of individual NDV groups. However, the most apoptotic effect was seen in NDV experimental groups. Taken together, the results from cytotoxicity tests, flow cytometry and colony assay showed that either of the oncolytic agents had significant effects at low concentrations 72 hr post-treatment. Thereby, they had the potential to be used as new approaches in cancer treatment.

Electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide using a glassy carbon electrode modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes and zein nanoparticle composites: application to HepG2 cancer cell detection.

A nanobiocomposite was prepared from multiwalled carbon nanotubes and zein nanoparticles. It was dispersed in water/ethanol and drop cast onto a glassy carbon electrode. The modified electrode can be used for electroreduction of H2O2 (typically at a working potential of -0.71 V vs. Ag/AgCl). The electrochemical properties of the electrode were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Response to H2O2 is linear in the 0.049 to 22 µM concentration range, and the detection limit is 35 nM at pH 7.0. The sensor was successfully utilized for the measurement of H2O2 in a synthetic urine sample, and for monitoring the release of H2O2 from human dermal fibroblasts and human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Graphical abstractSchematic representation of a novel metal- and enzyme-free electrochemical nanosensor. A glassy carbon electrode was modified with a nanocomposite prepared from multiwalled carbon nanotubes and zein nanoparticles. It was applied to the identification of liver cancer cells via sensing of H2O2 and has a very low detection limit.