The role and mechanisms of nanoparticles to enhance radiosensitivity in hepatocellular cell

ObjectiveThis work aimed to investigate whether nanosilver and nanogold could modulate irradiation response of hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) in vitro and the underlying mechanisms.MethodsCell viability of the HCC cell lines (HepG2) was examined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-yl)-5(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2H-terazolium (MTT) assays. Clonogenic growth assays of HepG2 were determined by colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution changes were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). DNA damage was assessed by monitoring γ-H2AX foci in irradiated cells with immunofluorescence microscopy. The expression of regulating molecules was analyzed by using western blotting for Bax, caspase-3, and Bcl-2, and the content of catalase (Catalase CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (Total of GSH) were determined.ResultsOur results show that nanosilver and nanogold reduced the viability of HepG2 cells. Nanosilver and nanogold significantly enhanced the radiosensitivity of HepG2 cells. Obtained by Dq, the SER of 1/5 silver + irradiation group, 1/10 silver + irradiation group, 1/5 gold + irradiation group, 1/10 gold + irradiation group, respectively, were 1.977, 1.823, 1.762, 1.597. Immunofluorescence assays showed that there was 32.2 ± 1.2% of irradiated HepG2. And 48.1 ± 0.1% of 1/5 IC50 nanogold + 6 Gy group, 43.7 ± 0.8% of 1/10 IC50 nanogold + 6 Gy group, 48.8 ± 1.2% of 1/5 IC50 nanosilver + 6 Gy group,41.5 ± 1.5% of 1/10 IC50 nanosilver + 6 Gy group. Nanosilver and nanogold could upregulate the expression of Bax, caspase-3 and downregulate the expression of Bcl-2. Moreover, the content of CAT, SOD and Total GSH were significantly reduced.ConclusionNanosilver and nanogold could enhance the radiationsensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Elevated DNA damage levels and apoptosis may be responsible for this.