BCc1, the novel antineoplastic nanocomplex, showed potent anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

Purpose

In spite of all the efforts and researches on anticancer therapeutics, an absolute treatment is still a myth. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize novel technologies in order to synthesize smart multifunctional structures. In this study, for the first time, we have evaluated the anticancer effects of BCc1 nanocomplex by vitro and in vivo studies, which is designed based on the novel nanochelating technology.

Methods

Human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7) and mouse embryonic fibroblasts were used for the in vitro study. Antioxidant potential, cell toxicity, apoptosis induction, and CD44 and CD24 protein expression were evaluated after treatment of cells with different concentrations of BCc1 nanocomplex. For the in vivo study, mammary tumor-bearing female Balb/c mice were treated with different doses of BCc1 and their effects on tumor growth rate and survival were evaluated.

Results

BCc1 decreased CD44 protein expression and increased CD24 protein expression. It induced MCF-7 cell apoptosis but at the same concentrations did not have negative effects on mouse embryonic fibroblasts viability and protected them against oxidative stress. Treatment with nanocomplex increased survival and reduced the tumor size growth in breast cancer-bearing balb/c mice.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate that BCc1 has the capacity to be assessed as a new anticancer agent in complementary studies.

Keywords:

• BCc1
• cancer
• nanotechnology
• nanochelating technology
• nanocomplex

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Department of Research and Development in the Sodour Ahrar Shargh Co and Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. We express our gratitude for Dr ZM Hassan (Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran) guidance. Special thanks to Dr Samira Mohammadi-Yeganeh (Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran) and Fakhorosadat Nasiri (Sodour Ahrar Shargh Co) for their assistance in this project.

Disclosure

MHN is the owner of Nanochelating Technology and executive manager and chairman of Management Board of Sodour Ahrar Shargh Co., Tehran, Iran. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.