Potent cytotoxicity and induction of ROS‑mediated genomic instability, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis by Y2O3 NPs in Hep‑G2 hepatic cancer cells

Abstract

Hepatic cancer, one of the most prevalent and lethal cancers globally, remains a significant health challenge, with limited treatment options underscoring the urgent need for novel, more effective therapies. Yttrium oxide nanoparticles (Y2O3 NPs) have attracted attention in nanomedicine due to their promising properties, including enhanced drug delivery, imaging capabilities, and therapeutic effects. However, the specific impact of Y2O3 NPs on hepatic cancer is largely unexplored. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the cytotoxic effects of Y2O3 NPs on cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, genomic stability, mitochondrial integrity, and apoptosis induction in Hep-G2 hepatic cancer cells. The results from the SRB cytotoxicity assay demonstrated a strong concentration-dependent decrease in Hep-G2 cell viability, with a notably low half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 13.15 µg/ml. Exposure to the IC50 concentration of Y2O3 NPs led to increased ROS generation, DNA damage induction, and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, the expression of pro-apoptotic p53 and mitochondrial ND3 genes was significantly upregulated, while the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene was markedly downregulated, triggering apoptosis in Hep-G2 cells after 72 h of exposure to Y2O3 NPs. Collectively, these findings highlight the therapeutic potential of Y2O3 NPs in hepatic cancer, emphasizing the need for further research to fully explore their efficacy as a treatment option for liver cancer.