An in vitro evaluation of photothermal effect of gold nanoparticles on oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Objectives: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the leading type of cancer found in the head and neck area with a low survival rate. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) show promise as an alternative cancer treatment due to their photothermal properties. The study investigated the in vitro effects of GNPs on oral cancer cells, focusing on their photothermal impact by analyzing the expression levels of Caspase-8, Cytochrome C, and C-Myc, both with and without laser application.

Methods: The study included four groups: a control group with no treatment, and three treatment groups, doxorubicin (DOX), GNSCs, and GNSCs with laser exposure. Key parameters were measured, including the mode of cell death via fluorescence staining, Cytochrome-C and Caspase-8 expression using ELISA, and C-Myc oncogene expression through PCR.

Results: The study found that GNSCs with laser exposure significantly increased apoptosis in oral cancer cells compared to GNSCs alone. DOX treatment reduced cell viability and increased apoptosis by elevating Cytochrome C and Caspase-8 expression. While GNSCs alone had no significant effect, combining GNSCs with laser exposure enhanced Caspase-8 levels. Both DOX and GNSCs with laser suppressed C-Myc expression, with DOX being more effective.

Conclusion: Photothermal therapy using GNSCs combined with laser treatment shows promise as an alternative to chemotherapy and radiotherapy by inducing apoptosis through enhanced Caspase-8 activity and reduced C-Myc expression, although it is less effective than DOX in promoting Cytochrome C release and suppressing C-Myc.