Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Effect of gold nanocomposite bearing HIF-1α siRNA on radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell

Haosheng Zhang , Fangzheng Zhou

Department of Radiation Oncology, Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital (The Affiliated Luohu Hospital) of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Luohu Hospital Group, 47 Youyi Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen 518020, People’s Republic of China;

For correspondence:- Haosheng Zhang Email: m19210480506@163.com

Accepted: 7 October 2023 Published: 30 October 2023

Citation: Zhang H, Zhou F. Effect of gold nanocomposite bearing HIF-1α siRNA on radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell. Trop J Pharm Res 2023; 22(10):2087-2097 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v22i10.10

© 2023 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of gold nanocomposite carrying hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) siRNA on radiosensitivity of nasopharynx cancer (NPC) cells.

Methods: Gold nanocomposite (AuNRs-(PEI-PEG)/RGD) or (AuPPR) was first synthesized and its cytotoxicity was evaluated. Then, the expression of HIF-1α in hypoxic NPC cells was assessed. In addition, the radiation sensitivity of AuPPR bearing HIF-1α siRNA on the cells was examined under x-ray exposure.

Result: Gold nanocomposite (AuPPR) carrying HIF-1α siRNA (AuPPR-HIF-1α siRNA) significantly down-regulated HIF-1α expression. Under irradiation treatment, AuPPR-HIF-1α siRNA significantly enhanced apoptosis of NPC cells by 33.76 ± 3.65 %, when compared to the control and simple AuPPR group (22.5 ± 4.16 %, p < 0.01). Furthermore, cell cycle was significantly blocked in the sub-G1 phase in AuPPR-HIF-1α siRNA radiotherapy groups, indicating severe cell damage.

Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that AuPPR-HIF-1α siRNA is effective in improving the radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells under hypoxia, and therefore can potentially be used to improve the radiotherapy of this carcinoma.

Keywords: Gold nanoparticles, Nasopharynx cells, Cancer, Hypoxia, Hypoxia-inducible factor-1?, Radiation susceptibility, Radiotherapy, Radiosensitivity