C 60 fullerene and its nanocomplexes with anticancer drugs modulate circulating phagocyte functions and dramatically increase ROS generation in transformed monocytes

• Published in: Cancer nanotechnology Vol. 9; no. 1; p. 8
• Main Authors: Skivka, Larysa M, Prylutska, Svitlana V, Rudyk, Mariia P, Khranovska, Nataliia M, Opeida, Ievgeniia V, Hurmach, Vasyl V, Prylutskyy, Yuriy I, Sukhodub, Leonid F, Ritter, Uwe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Austria 01.12.2018
• Subjects: Anticancer drugs; Nanocomplexes; ROS generation; Computer simulation; C60 fullerene; Transformed monocytes
• ISSN: 1868-6958
• DOI: 10.1186/s12645-017-0034-0

C fullerene-based nanoformulations are proposed to have a direct toxic effect on tumor cells. Previous investigations demonstrated that C fullerene used alone or being conjugated with chemotherapeutic agents possesses a potent anticancer activity. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of C fullerene and its nanocomplexes with anticancer drugs on human phagocyte metabolic profile in vitro. Analysis of the metabolic profile of phagocytes exposed to C fullerene in vitro revealed augmented phagocytic activity and down-regulated reactive nitrogen species generation in these cells. Additionally, cytofluorimetric analysis showed that C fullerene can exert direct cytotoxic effect on normal and transformed phagocytes through the vigorous induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species generation. Cytotoxic action as well as the pro-oxidant effect of C fullerene was more pronounced toward malignant phagocytes. At the same time, C fullerenes have the ability to down-regulate the pro-oxidant effect of cisplatin on normal cells. These results indicate that C fullerenes may influence phagocyte metabolism and have both pro-oxidant and antioxidant properties. The antineoplastic effect of C fullerene has been observed by direct toxic effect on tumor cells, as well as through the modulation of the functions of effector cells of antitumor immunity.