Intracellular Fate of Sub-Toxic Concentration of Functionalized Selenium Nanoparticles in Aggressive Prostate Cancer Cells

Caroline Bissardon, Olivier Proux, Salvatore Andrea Gazze, Odile Filhol, Benoît Toubhans, Lucie Sauzéat, Sylvain Bouchet, Aled R. Lewis, Thierry Maffeis, Jean Louis Hazemann, Sam Bayat, Peter Cloetens, R. Steven Conlan, Laurent Charlet, Sylvain Bohic

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Selenium 0 (Se0) is a powerful anti-proliferative agent in cancer research. We investigated the impact of sub-toxic concentrations of Se0 functionalized nanoparticles (SeNPs) on prostate cancer PC-3 cells and determined their intracellular localization and fate. An in-depth characterization of functionalized selenium nanoparticles composition is proposed to certify that no chemical bias relative to synthesis issues might have impacted the study. Selenium is an extremely diluted element in the biological environment and therefore requires high-performance techniques with a very low detection limit and high spatial resolution for intracellular imaging. This was explored with state-of-the-art techniques, but also with cryopreparation to preserve the chemical and structural integrity of the cells for spatially resolved and speciation techniques. Monodisperse solutions of SeNPs capped with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were shown to slow down the migration capacity of aggressive prostate cancer cells compared to polydisperse solutions of SeNPs capped with chitosan. BSA coating could prevent interactions between the reactive surface of the nanoparticles and the plasma membrane, mitigating the generation of reactive oxygen species. The intracellular localization showed interaction with mitochondria and also a localization in the lysosome-related organelle. The SeNPs-BSA localization in mitochondria constitute a possible explanation for our result showing a very significant dampening of the PC-3 cell proliferation capabilities. The purpose of the use of sublethal compound concentrations was to limit adverse effects resulting from high cell death to best evaluate some cellular changes and the fate of these SeNPs on PC-3. Our findings provide new insight to further study the various mechanisms of cytotoxicity of SeNPs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number2999
JournalNanomaterials
Volume13
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2023

Keywords

  • X-ray fluorescence
  • cytotoxicity
  • nanoparticle-correlative synchrotron imaging
  • prostate cancer
  • selenium
  • speciation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemical Engineering(all)
  • Materials Science(all)

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