• Li, Mei
• Fay, Michael W.
• Mann, Stephen
• Bradshaw, Tracey D.
• Drewe, William C.
• Patane, Amalia
• Bardelang, Philip
• Turyanska, Lyudmila
• Thomas, Neil R.

Abstract

<p>We report the effects induced by near-infrared apoferritin-PbS (AFt-PbS) nanocomposites on cell cycle progression in non-tumorigenic and cancerous human cells. By using flow cytometry and Annexin V assay, we show that the cell cycle of non-tumorigenic cells is not altered by exposure to AFt-PbS nanoparticles at concentrations up to 1 mg mL(-1). In contrast, exposure of human-derived breast cancer cell lines to AFt-PbS at concentrations &gt; 0.2 mg mL(-1) triggers apoptotic cell death. The selective death of cancerous cells and the near-infrared fluorescence properties of AFt-PbS could be exploited in both nanomedicine and in vivo imaging studies.</p>

Topics

• nanoparticle
• nanocomposite
• impedance spectroscopy