A novel hemocompatible core@shell nanosystem for selective targeting and apoptosis induction in cancer cells.

Abstract

One of the main problems with drug-based cancer treatments is the lack of selectivity, which causes them to be distributed non-specifically in the body and cells, generating undesirable side effects. In this work, a novel hybrid nanosystem for cancer cell targeting and therapeutic delivery of Ag nanoparticles has been designed. The proposed nanosystem contains a Ag core coated with a mesoporous silica shell which prevents the aggregation of Ag nanoparticles and allows the anchoring of transferrin as a targeting ligand, thus enabling the nanosystem to be selectively directed to cancer cells that overexpress transferrin receptors. The analytical and functional characterization of the nanosystem has allowed to demonstrate selective internalization and its cytotoxic potential in cancer cells where it induces apoptosis. Additional bioanalytical experiments have enabled the identification of different transcripts and altered proteins in cells treated with the nanosystem, which has made it possible to delve deeper into the biomolecular mechanisms by which the nanosystem exerts its action. Furthermore, a hemocompatibility study indicates neither activation of monocytes nor platelet aggregation after nanosystem exposure, hence supporting the future clinical applicability of the Ag@MSNs-Tf nanosystem.