Fullerene (C60) nanoparticles exert photocytotoxicity through modulation of reactive oxygen species and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in the MCF-7 cancer cell line.

Li, Zhi; Zhang, Fei-long; Wang, Zhiyuan; Pan, Li-li; Shen, Ying-ying; Zhang, Zhen-zhong

The photocytotoxicity of water-dispersed 100–300 nm fullerene amino acid derivatives nanoparticles was studied. The nanoparticle solution of fullerene derivatives, l-phenylalanine (C60-phe) and glycine (C60-gly), suppressed the in vitro growth of MCF-7 cells lines, induced cancer cells apoptosis, and caused a perturbation of the cell cycle. These nanoparticle solutions increased intracellular reactive oxygen species after irradiation. C60-phe or C60-gly upregulated the expression of phosphorylated (p)p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). N-Acetyl- l-cysteine significantly depressed the composite-induced activation of p38MAPK, and the kinase inhibitor SB203580 significantly prevented C60 derivative-induced cell apoptosis. This study revealed that p38MAPK is activated by C60 nanoparticles through triggering reactive oxygen species generation, leading to cancer cell injuries.

FULLERENE derivatives; NANOPARTICLES; REACTIVE oxygen species; MITOGEN-activated protein kinases; CANCER cells; APOPTOSIS; GENE expression

Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 2013, Vol 15, Issue 12, p1

1388-0764

Academic Journal

10.1007/s11051-013-2102-7