Cytotoxic activities of silver nanoparticles and silver ions in parent and tamoxifen-resistant T47D human breast cancer cells and their combination effects with tamoxifen against resistant cells

Studies on biomedical applications of nanoparticles are growing with a rapid pace. In medicine, nanoparticles may be the solution for multi-drug-resistance which is still a major drawback in chemotherapy of cancer. In the present study, we investigated the potential cytotoxic effect of silver nanoparticles [Ag NPs] and silver ions [Ag[+]] in both parent and tamoxifen-resistant T47D cells in presence and absence of tamoxifen. Ag NPs were synthesized [< 28 nm] and MTT assay was carried out. The associated IC[50] values were found to be: 6.31 micro g/ml for Ag NPs/parent cells, 37.06 micro g/ml for Ag NPs/tamoxifen-resistant cells, 33.06 micro g/ml for Ag[+]/parent cells and 10.10 micro g/ml for Ag[+]/resistant cells. As a separate experiment, the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of Ag NPs and Ag[+] on the proliferation of tamoxifen-resistant cells was evaluated at non-toxic concentrations of tamoxifen. Our results suggested that in noncytotoxic concentrations of silver nanomaterials and tamoxifen, the combinations of Ag[+]-tamoxifen and Ag NPs-tamoxifen are still cytotoxic. This finding may be of great potential benefit in chemotherapy of breast cancer; since much lower doses of tamoxifen may be needed to produce the same cytotoxic effect and side effects will be reduced

Serum transferrin in newborns, healthy children and with iron deficiency anemia

Serum transferrin receptor [STfR] is a reliable tool for assessing functional iron status and erythropoietic activity in adults, but little is known about its role in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate STfR concentrations in healthy newborns, infants, and children and to show age and sex-related variations. A further aim was to investigate the value of STfR in children with iron deficiency anemia [IDA], and its response to oral iron therapy. We studied 3 groups. Group I included 26 healthy newborns, they were 70 preterm and 16 term babies. Group II included 22 healthy infants and children. Group III included 27 children with IDA. Complete blood count, serum iron, total iron binding capacity [TIBC], serum ferritin [SF], and STfR levels were measured. STfR/log ferritin index [STfR-F index] was calculated. Cord blood samples were obtained from the studied newborns just after delivery. Children with IDA were treated for 3 months with oral iron to evaluate its effects on parameters reflecting iron status. The results showed that: in group I, serum iron, SF, and TIBC were highest at term, whereas reticulocytes were highest in the preterm babies. STfR levels were not influenced by gestation. STfR in healthy newborns correlated negatively with hemoglobin [r = -0.779; P 0.005], with iron[r -0.25; P = 0.03] and with SF [r = -0.273; P= 0.071, and positively with reticulocytes [r = 0.838; P = 0.007]. In-group II, a negative correlation was found between STfR and age among healthy infants and children [r = -0.595; P = 0.001]. There was no significant difference in STfR between male and female subjects in-group I and II [P = 0.113, and P = 0.456]. STfR concentration was significantly higher in children with IDA compared to healthy children [P = 0.001]. After oral iron therapy, STfR level was significantly decreased compared to that before iron therapy [P 0.006]. STfR-F index was significantly decreased in children with IDA after oral iron therapy compared to that before iron therapy [P = 0.0001]. In children with IDA before treatment, STfR correlated negatively with hemoglobin [r = -0.798; P 0.001], with serum iron [r = -0.485; P =0.02], and with SF [r = -0.447; P = 0.03], and positively with TIBC [r = 0.503; P=0.02]

Conclusions: STfR levels in cord blood are not directly influenced by gestation. STfR concentrations show age-,but not sex-related changes. STfR is a reliable indicator for identifying IDA, and STfR and STfR-F index are useful parameters for assessing the effect of iron therapy in these children