Effect of gold-conjugated resveratrol nanoparticles on glioma cells and its underlying mechanism

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Liu, Xiaojiang^a; | Guo, Zongfeng^b; | Li, Jun^a | Wu, Demo^a | Liu, Zhongping^a | Guan, Cheng^a | Guan, Yixiang^c; | Lu, Xiaomin^d;

Affiliations: [a] Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Haian Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China | [b] Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Haian Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China | [c] Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Haian Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China | [d] Department of Oncology, Affiliated Haian Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding authors: Yixiang Guan, Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Haian Hospital of Nantong University, Zhongba Middle Road, No. 17, Haian Town, Haian County, Nantong, Jiangsu 226600, China. E-mail: [email protected]. Xiaomin Lu, Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Haian Hospital of Nantong University, Zhongba Middle Road, No. 17, Haian Town, Haian County, Nantong, Jiangsu 226600, China. E-mail: [email protected]

Note: [†] These authors contributed equally to this work.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain tumor with poor prognosis. Although Resveratrol (Rsv) is known to have therapeutic effects on glioma, the effects of gold-conjugated resveratrol nanoparticles (Rsv-AuNPs) on glioma cells are rarely reported. OBJECTIVE:We aimed to investigate the effects of Rsv-AuNPs on glioma cells and its underlying mechanism. METHOD:Human glioma cell line U87 was treated with different concentrations of Rsv-AuNPs. CCK-8, transwell, and wound healing assay were performed to measure the effects of Rsv-AuNPs on cell proliferation, invasion, and migration ability, respectively. Flow cytometry assay was used to detect the effects of Rsv-AuNPs on apoptosis. Changes of protein expressions related to proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis were measured by Western blot assay. In addition, the inhibitory role of Rsv-AuNPs in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was verified by using PI3K inhibitor LY294002.  RESULTS:Rsv-AuNPs treatment significantly suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of U87 cells (all P < 0.05) and increased the apoptosis rate (P < 0.05). The changes of proteins related to proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were consistent (all P < 0.05). Moreover, Rsv-AuNPs treatment significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT and mTOR proteins in U87 cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:The present study found that Rsv-AuNPs inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of U87 cells and induced apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. In the future, Rsv-AuNPs might be applied to the clinical treatment of glioma through more in-depth animal and clinical research.

Keywords: Gold-conjugated resveratrol nanoparticles, glioma cell, mechanism

DOI: 10.3233/BME-230171

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 279-292, 2024