Investigating the effect of cadmium telluride quantum dots coated with Nerium oleander hydroalcoholic extract on apoptosis induction in MCF7 cancer cells

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Chemistry, Shahrood Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran

2 Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran

3 Medicinal Plant Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran

10.22038/nmj.2025.77429.1889

Abstract

Objective(s): Breast cancer, a prevalent malignancy, poses significant challenges despite current clinical strategies. Herbal medicine, such as Nerium oleander (N. oleander), and nanocarriers like Cadmium Telluride Quantum Dots (CdTe QDs), offer potential solutions. This study aims to evaluate the apoptosis-inducing effects of N. oleander extract using CdTe QDs as nanocarriers on the MCF-7 cell line, highlighting their potential in breast cancer treatment.
Materials and Methods: N. oleander specimens were collected and processed to obtain a hydroalcoholic extract. CdTe QDs were biosynthesized using the extract. MCF-7 cancer cells were cultured and treated in different groups, including the control group, extract group, QDs group, and extract + QDs group. Cell viability, Phosphatidylserine externalization, indicative of apoptosis, Caspases 3, 8, and 9 activity, DNA fragmentation, Nitric oxide (NO) levels, alkaline phosphatase activity and Clonogenic assays were determined.
Results: In our study, all tested substances, including N. oleander extract, CdTe QDs, and N. oleander-coated CdTe QDs, showed concentration and time-dependent cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 cells. N. oleander-coated CdTe QDs exhibited the highest cytotoxicity. These QDs also induced a significantly higher rate of apoptosis in treated MCF-7 cells after 24 hours. Moreover, the activity of caspases 3, 8, and 9 was notably increased in cells treated with N. oleander extract and N. oleander-coated CdTe QDs. Electrophoresis confirmed DNA fragmentation in these treated cells. N. oleander extract reduced nitric oxide production, with even lower levels observed in the extract + QDs group. Treatment with N. oleander extract and N. oleander-coated CdTe QDs also elevated alkaline phosphatase activity. Furthermore, N. oleander-coated CdTe QDs effectively reduced cell colony formation in a dose-dependent manner.
Conclusion: N. oleander-coated CdTe QDs demonstrated superior cytotoxicity and apoptosis-inducing effects on MCF-7 cells compared to N. oleander extract and CdTe QDs. This suggests their potential as a promising candidate for cancer therapy.

Keywords

References

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Available Online from 12 March 2025

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