Effects of As ₂O ₃ nanoparticles on cell growth and apoptosis of NB4 cells

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to explore the preparation of arsenic trioxide (As ₂O ₃) nanoparticles and examine the antitumor effects of these nanoparticles on NB4 cells. As ₂O ₃ nanoparticles were prepared using the sol-gel method and characterized using transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The results indicated that the As ₂O ₃ nanoparticles prepared in the present study were round or elliptical, well dispersed and had an ~40-nm or <10-nm diameter. The antitumor effects of As ₂O ₃ nanoparticles at various concentrations were analyzed by flow cytometry and the MTT assay, and were compared with those of traditional As ₂O ₃ solution. At the same concentration and incubation time (48 h), the survival rate of cells treated with As ₂O ₃ nanoparticles was significantly lower than that of cells treated with the As ₂O ₃ solution. The growth inhibition rate under both treatments was time- and dose-dependent. In addition, at the same concentration and incubation time, the apoptosis rate of the cells treated with As ₂O ₃ nanoparticles was significantly higher than that of the cells treated with the As ₂O ₃ solution. Furthermore, As ₂O ₃ nanoparticles resulted in a greater reduction in the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma 2 compared with the As ₂O ₃ solution. In conclusion, As ₂O ₃ nanoparticles, prepared using the sol-gel method, were found to produce a stronger cytotoxic effect on tumor cells than that produced by the As ₂O ₃ solution, possibly by inhibiting Bcl-2 expression.