Authors: Yu-Tse Lee et al.

Journal: Applied Materials & Interfaces (2024)

Research Areas: Cancer research

Cell Lines: 4T1 (mouse mammary gland cancer cells)

Summary: One of the most promising approaches for treating cancer metastases is the use of various types of nanoparticles (NPs) to carry drugs with simultaneous antimetastatic effects of NPs. Modulation of cell migration is one of the responses that occur when cells are treated with some NPs. In this study, evidence is provided that the NPs MSN-PEG/TA 25 with no drug loading can hinder cell migration once the NPs are taken up by cells. Moreover, while treatment with MSN-PEG/TA 25 in tumor-bearing mice did not affect the growth of primary tumors, it exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on tumor metastasis. Furthermore, the combination therapy of MSN-PEG/TA 25 and liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin (Lipo-Dox) successfully presented a synergistic effect, resulting in a significant reduction in cancer metastasis, thereby enhancing the overall survival of mice. HoloMonitor M4 was used to study the effects of NPs on cell motility. To monitor individual cell movement, real-time cell tracking was used to capture time-lapse images. Results show that cells in the MSN-PEG/TA 25-treated group moved within a limited area compared to the control group. The motility of cell also confirmed that the migratory activity of 4T1 cells was hindered by MSN-PEG/TA 25 treatment, making it a potential candidate for antitumor metastasis applications.

Keywords: mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), metastasis, focal adhesion turnover, cell motility, angiogenesis