Augmentation of the cytotoxic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles by MTCP conjugation: Non-canonical apoptosis and autophagy induction in human adenocarcinoma breast cancer cell lines.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles are very toxic, but their agglomeration reduces their lethal cytotoxic effects. Here we tested the hypothesis that conjugation of ZnO nanoparticles via Meso-Tetra (4-Carboxyphenyl) Porphyrin (MTCP) could provide electrostatic or steric stabilization of ZnO nanoparticles and increase their cytotoxic effects. The cytotoxicity and cell death induction were assessed using two human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468). The MTT results indicated that the toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles was significantly increased upon MTCP conjugation. Annexin/PI and real time RT-PCR results demonstrated that the ZnO-MTCP nanoparticles induced cell death via different non-canonical pathways that are under ca2+ control. Calcium signaling could regulate lysosomal dependent apoptosis and death autophagy, and killing of the two selected types of breast cancer cells.