We report on the effect of naked CaS nanostructures on the proliferation and survival rate of carcinoma cancer cells and normal fibroblasts in vitro. The CaS nanostructures are prepared via the microwave mediated decomposition of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in the presence of calcium acetate Ca(CH3CO2)2. Light scattering measurements revealed that dispersions contain CaS nanostructures in the size range of a few Å to about 1 nanometers are formed when DMSO is decomposed in the presence of Ca(CH3CO2)2, consistent with (CaS)n clusters (n=1-4). We found that a single dose of CaS nanoclusters smaller than 0.8 nm in diameter does not affect the survival and growth rate of normal fibroblasts and inhibits the proliferation rate of carcinoma cells in vitro. Larger CaS nanoparticles, approximately (1.1±0.2) nm in diameter, have a similar effect on carcinoma cell proliferation and survival rate. The CaS nanoclusters have little effect in the normal fibroblasts cell cycle. Human carcinoma cells treated with the CaS nanocluster dispersion exhibited a decreased ability to properly enter the cell cycle marked by a decrease in cell concentration in G0/G1 phase in the first 24 hours and an increase in cells held in the SubG1 and G0/G1 phases up to 72-hours post treatment. Apoptosis and necrotic channels were found to play significant roles in the death of human carcinoma exposed to the CaS nanoclusters. Effects on normal fibroblasts appeared to be short lived and non-detrimental. The interaction of CaS with several functional groups was further investigated using theoretical calculations. CaS is predicted by calculations at the DFT/B3LYP/6-311G level of theory to interact with thiol, hydroxide, amino, carboxylic acid, ammonium and carboxylate functional groups. None of these interactions are predicted to result in the dissociation of CaS. Thermodynamic considerations and experimental measurements, on the other hand, are consistent with the dissociation of CaS into Ca2+ ions and H2S in acidic media, both of which are known to cause apoptosis or cell death. Passive uptake and intracellular pH levels of carcinoma cells are proposed to result in the observed selectivity of CaS to inhibit cancer cell proliferation with no significant effect on normal fibroblast cells. The results encourage further research with other cell lines in vitro as well as in vivo to translate this nanotechnology into clinical use.

Effect of CaS nanostructures in the proliferation, survival and cell cycle of human adenocarcinoma and normal fibroblast cells in vitro

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.