Evaluation of the ZnO Nanoparticles Biosynthesized by Amaranthus Ruentus on the Expression of Apoptotic Genes (Bax and Bcl-2) in Breast Cancer Cells (MDA-MB-231)

Cancer is a kind of genetic disease caused by DNA mutation which makes disorder in normal pattern of division and differentiation of cells and eventually formation of a neoplasm. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of death in women aged 35-55 years. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the common methods of controlling cancer, but the side effects and lack of positive results especially in metastatic tumors has led us discover new treatments. Nowadays, nanotechnology has helped us to find and develop new therapies. The purpose of this study was to characterize the antioxidant and apoptotic properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles biosynthesized by Amaranthus cruentus plant on breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231).

The Zinc oxide nanoparticles were green-synthesized by the extract of Amaranthus cruentus leaves. Size and morphological characteristics of ZnO NPs determined by DLS tests, FESEM and TEM. To investigate the effect of ZnO nanoparticles on induction apoptosis, cancer cells were seeded in T25 flasks and treated with different concentrations of nanoparticles (15, 30 and 60 μg/ml). After 48 hours, gene expression changes of Bax and Bcl-2 was investigated by Real time PCR technique. SPSS software and one-way ANOVA test were used to analyze the data. At the end, comparison of means did by least significant differences (LSD) method.

The DLS test showed the average size of the synthesized ZnO NPs is about 30 to 38 nm. The results of gene expression by Real time PCR technique showed that ZnO nanoparticles reduced anti-apoptosis gene expression Bcl-2 and increases pro-apoptotic gene expression in MDA cell line.

In general, the results obtained from this study can claim that ZnO nanoparticles have anti-cancer properties and can be introduced after further studies as candidates for cancer treatment in the field of medicine and pharmacy.