The Effect of ZnO Nanoparticles Functionalized with Glutamic Acid and Conjugated with Thiosemicarbazide on the Expression of Bax, caspase-3, and bcl-2 Genes in Adenocarcinoma Gastric (AGS) Cell Line

Conjugation of metal nanoparticles (NPs) to thiosemicarbazide improves their stability and anticancer potential. This work was aimed at preparing ZnO NPs functionalized with glutamic acid conjugated to thiosemicarbazide (Zn@Glu/TSC). Then, the anticancer potential of nanoparticles was studied by evaluating their cytotoxicity and the expression of the genes involved in cell apoptosis in AGS cancer cells. Physicochemical properties of the NPs were characterized using FT-IR, SEM, and TEM imaging, and Zeta potential assays. Cytotoxicity and inhibitory concentration 50% value of the NPs was determined using the MTT assay. Moreover, the expression of the caspase-3, bax, and bcl-2 genes among NPs treated AGS cells was investigated using Real-time PCR assay. According to the results, the NPs were spherical with a size range of 10-90 nm. FT-IR assay confirmed the proper synthesis of the NPs and the zeta potential was determined -11.7 mV. The synthesized NPs showed significant cytotoxicity at concentrations ≥ 15.62 µg/mL and 50% inhibitory concentration was determined 90µg/mL. Besides, the expression of caspase-3 and bax genes in NPs treated cells increased by 1.67 and 1.80 folds, respectively, while the bcl-2 gene was regulated by 0.70 folds, compared to the control cells.