The Effect of Doxorubicin Loaded on Titanium Nanotubes on Breast Cancer Cells (MDA-MB-231) and Evaluation of Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 Gene mRNA Expression

Nano-carriers can increase the therapeutic efficiency of anticancer drugs and reduce their side effects. This study compares the therapeutic effect of free and loaded doxorubicin (Dox) on titanium nanotubes (TNT) in MDA-MB-231 cell lines. First, Dox was loaded on the nanotube. Then the toxic effects of TNT-Dox were evaluated by MTT test and IC50 was obtained on MDA-MB-231 cell line. The percentage of necrosis and apoptosis was checked and the mRNA expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8 genes was obtained by real time technique. The IC50 obtained 450 and 650 μM at 24 and 48 h for Dox-TNT and Dox, respectively. Flow cytometry results indicated that 56% of cells treated with Dox-TNT underwent programmed cell death, while Dox eliminated 40% of the cells. The gene mRNA expression levels of caspase-8 and caspase-3 in samples containing Dox-TNT were significantly higher than those treated with Dox. The carrier used in this study augmented the therapeutic efficacy of Dox by reducing the MDA-MB-231 cell population in a shorter time, at lower concentrations, and with a more sustained effect. Dox loading onto this carrier increased programmed cell death and upregulated the expression of two key genes, caspase-8 and caspase-3, crucial in the apoptosis process.