The Effect of Fluorescent Tamoxifen Nanodrug on the Expression of Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Genes in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

Subject Areas : Journal of Animal Biology

Noora Amraee ¹ , Maryam Bikhof Torbati ^{2 *} , Ahmad Majd ³ , Masoud Shaabanzadeh ⁴

1 - Department of Biology, NT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Department of Biology, YI.C., Islamic Azad university, Yadegar-e-Imam Khomeini (Rah) Shahr-e-ray, Iran
3 - Department of Biology, NT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
4 - Department of Chemistry, Da.C., Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran

Received: 2025-07-15 Accepted : 2025-09-03 Published : 2024-02-15

Keywords: Tamoxifen, GQDs, Real-Time PCR, drug delivery, Breast cancer, MCF-7,

Abstract :

Tamoxifen is the most common drug for the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. The antagonistic effects of tamoxifen against ERs prevent DNA synthesis and the cellular response of cancer cells to the stimulating effects of estrogen, and as a result, increase cell death. In order to overcome the side effects of tamoxifen and the low solubility of this drug, many nanosystems have been developed to carry tamoxifen molecules, which have the ability to deliver tamoxifen at a lower and safer dose to tumors and protect the hydrophobic molecules of tamoxifen against destruction by macrophages in the bloodstream. The effect of fluorescent nano drug tamoxifen (TMX-FPGs) on MCF-7 cancer cells was evaluated by the MTT method. The expression changes of P53, BCL2, BAX, and CyclinD1 genes in MCF-7 cells treated with nano drugs were investigated using Real-Time PCR. Also, cellular uptake of the nano drug was evaluated using confocal microscopy. TMX-FPGs nano drug decreased the viability of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and with the increase of P53 expression and BAX/BCL2 ratio, and the decrease of CyclinD1 expression, significantly increased apoptotic activity. Also, cell uptake and fluorescence emission of the nano drug were confirmed in cell imaging with a confocal microscope. Considering the fluorescence properties of the nano drug and its ability to induce apoptosis by increasing the expression of genes involved in this, and its cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cancer cells, the TMX-FPGs nano drug is a suitable candidate for monitoring and targeting MCF-7 cancer cells.

 

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