TY - JOUR
T1 - Gd-GQDs as nanotheranostic platform for the treatment of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer
AU - Ahmadi Kamalabadi, Mahdieh
AU - Ostadebrahimi, Hamid
AU - Koosha, Fereshteh
AU - Fatemidokht, Asieh
AU - Menbari Oskuie, Iman
AU - Amin, Fatemeh
AU - Shiralizadeh Dezfuli, Amin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024.
PY - 2024/8
Y1 - 2024/8
N2 - In this study, we developed new gadolinium-graphene quantum dot nanoparticles (Gd-GQDs) as a theranostic platform for magnetic resonance imaging and improved the efficiency of radiotherapy in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer. Based on cell toxicity results, Gd-GQD NPs were nontoxic for both cancer and normal cell lines up to 25 µg/ml. These NPs enhance the cytotoxic effect of radiation only on cancer cells but not on normal cells. The flow cytometry analysis indicated that cell death mainly occurred in the late phase of apoptosis. The immunocytochemical analysis was used to evaluate apoptosis pathway proteins. The Bcl-2 and p53 protein levels did not differ statistically significantly between radiation alone group and those that received irradiation in combination with NPs. In contrast, the combination group exhibited a significant increase in Bax protein expression, suggesting that cells could undergo apoptosis independent of the p53 pathway. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed that Gd-GQD NPs, when used at low concentrations, enhanced T1-weighted signal intensity resulting from T1 shortening effects. At higher concentrations, the T2 shortening effect became predominant and was able to decrease the signal intensity. Gd-GQD appears to offer a novel approach for enhancing the effectiveness of radiation treatment and facilitating MR imaging for monitoring HPV-positive tumors. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)
AB - In this study, we developed new gadolinium-graphene quantum dot nanoparticles (Gd-GQDs) as a theranostic platform for magnetic resonance imaging and improved the efficiency of radiotherapy in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer. Based on cell toxicity results, Gd-GQD NPs were nontoxic for both cancer and normal cell lines up to 25 µg/ml. These NPs enhance the cytotoxic effect of radiation only on cancer cells but not on normal cells. The flow cytometry analysis indicated that cell death mainly occurred in the late phase of apoptosis. The immunocytochemical analysis was used to evaluate apoptosis pathway proteins. The Bcl-2 and p53 protein levels did not differ statistically significantly between radiation alone group and those that received irradiation in combination with NPs. In contrast, the combination group exhibited a significant increase in Bax protein expression, suggesting that cells could undergo apoptosis independent of the p53 pathway. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed that Gd-GQD NPs, when used at low concentrations, enhanced T1-weighted signal intensity resulting from T1 shortening effects. At higher concentrations, the T2 shortening effect became predominant and was able to decrease the signal intensity. Gd-GQD appears to offer a novel approach for enhancing the effectiveness of radiation treatment and facilitating MR imaging for monitoring HPV-positive tumors. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)
KW - Gd-GQD nanoparticles
KW - Human papillomavirus
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85199178190
U2 - 10.1007/s12032-024-02431-4
DO - 10.1007/s12032-024-02431-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 39037549
AN - SCOPUS:85199178190
SN - 1357-0560
VL - 41
JO - Medical Oncology
JF - Medical Oncology
IS - 8
M1 - 205
ER -