New nanoparticles for better targeting of cancer cells.
The natural product emodin that occurs in plants exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenesis and anti-neoplastic properties in vitro and in vivo. Therefore it can be utilized to fight cancer. IPB scientists together with colleagues from Martin-Luther University Halle and University of Applied Sciences Merseburg have now taken a closer look at possible modifications to optimize targeting the agent to cancer cells.
Due to the biological properties of the anthroquinone derivative emodin as well as its fluorescence, it lends itself to be useful for pharmacology and pharmacokinetics studies. To enhance its selectivity to cancer cells, the team of scientists loaded emodin into non-fluorescent and novel fluorescent spherical mesoporous nanoparticles bearing N-methyl isatoic anhydride or lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl moieties. The resulting propylamine functionalized mesoporous silica nanomaterial was then thoroughly characterized, e.g. by powder X-ray diffraction and microscopic techniques.
To test the cytotoxicity of emodin-loaded nanoparticles, the researchers applied them to the human colon carcinoma cell line HT-29. Non-loaded nanoparticles did not affect cell proliferation, whereas those loaded with emodin were at least as efficient as emodin alone. The researchers could show that the uptake of silica nanomaterial by the tumor cells occurred within 2 hours, while the release of emodin occurred within 48 hours of treatment. Subsequently, emodin-loaded nanomaterial induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells. Their new nanomaterial might help in future to target anticancer agents to cancer cells more efficiently.
Original publication:
Paul Jänicke, Claudia Lennicke, Annette Meister, Barbara Seliger, Ludger A. Wessjohann, Goran N. Kaluđerović. Fluorescent spherical mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with emodin: Synthesis, cellular uptake and anticancer activity, Materials Science and Engineering: C, Volume 119, 2021, 111619, ISSN 0928-4931, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2020.111619.
