Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Intruduction: Colorectal adenocarcinoma, a frequent malignancy of the large intestine, is often treated with chemotherapy. However, the significant toxicity of these drugs to healthy tissues poses a major challenge in achieving successful cancer treatment. Cell culture has enabled the development of in vitro models for drug and anti-cancer compound testing. However, traditional 2D monolayer cultures have limitations in studying cancer biology. To more accurately recapitulate in vivo cellular behavior, cells are now routinely cultured in three-dimensional environments, which closely resemble the native tissue in terms of morphology and gene expression profiles. Electrospun nanofibers, with their high surface area and porosity, closely mimic the extracellular matrix and promote cell-cell interactions. These scaffolds have revolutionized 3D cell culture, providing a powerful tool for evaluating anticancer drugs in a more physiologically relevant environment. In recent years, much research has focused on herbal medicines as potent drug candidates for inducing apoptosis. Terminalia chebula is a medicinal plant with a wide array of therapeutic applications, including anticancer effects. Although numerous studies have reported the growth of healthy tissues on nanofiber scaffolds, there is limited information regarding the growth of tumor cells on these scaffolds.
Aim: This study investigated the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of Terminalia chebula extract on HT-29 colorectal cancer cells cultured in a PCL/Gelatin nanofiber scaffold model.
Materials and Methods: Colorectal cancer cells (HT-29 cell line) were cultured in both conventional (2D) and nanofiber scaffold (3D) culture conditions. After 24 hours, the cells were treated with 10, 100, 200, and 500 μg/mL concentrations of the extract for 24 hours. Subsequently, the MTT assay was performed to determine cell viability and IC50. In addition, cells treated with the IC50 concentration were stained with acridine orange/ethidium bromide. The morphology of the scaffold and cell adhesion on it were also examined using scanning electron microscopy. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's post-hoc test.
Results: Our findings indicated that Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the 3D nanofibrous scaffolds, both cell-free and seeded with HT-29 cells, exhibited desirable mechanical properties and adequate porosity. The cells cultured on these scaffolds demonstrated robust growth, proliferation, and a 3D morphology closely resembling in vivo conditions, indicating successful cell-scaffold interactions.  The MTT assay revealed that cell viability decreased in a concentration-dependent manner following 24 hours of treatment with the extract.  The IC50 of the extract was 500 μg/mL in 2D culture and 200 μg/mL in 3D culture after 24 hours of treatment. Based on the morphological assessment using acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, it was determined that treatment with the extract induced apoptosis in HT-29 cancer cell line.
Conclusion: Collectively, the findings of this study indicated that the hydroalcoholic extract of Terminalia chebula exhibits concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against cancer cells, with enhanced efficacy in a 3D culture model. This highlights the advantages of using nanofiber scaffolds to mimic the in vivo tumor microenvironment and to better understand the mechanisms of cancer progression. Future studies should further explore the potential of this model for drug discovery and mechanistic investigations.

Abstract Aim: In this study, the effects of curcumin- coated silver nanoparticles were examined on induction of apoptosis in ovarian cancer A2780 cell.
Material and Methods: Silver nanoparticles coated with curcumin were biosynthesized, then A2780 cells were treated with different concentration of silver nanoparticles. Cytotoxicity effects of silver nanoparticles in A2780 cells were assessed by MTT assay and apoptotic effects of these nanoparticles were examined using DAPI and acridine orange/ propidium iodide staining and caspase 3/9 activation assay. Changes in Bax and Bcl-2 gene expression were analyzed by Real Time PCR.
Results: Findings showed that silver nanoparticles inhibit A2780 cells proliferation in a dose dependent manner. 8 µg/ml 50% decreased cell viability at 24 hours, DAPI and, acridine orange propidium iodide staining represent that percentage of apoptotic cells in the treated groups was increased. The results of Real Time PCR showed that Bax gene expression in cells treated with silver nanoparticles increased, while Bcl-2 gene expression in the treated cells was decreased.
Conclusion: Silver nanoparticles coated with curcumin induce apoptosis in A2780 cancer cells. The use of the nanoparticles should be considered a promising strategy for the treatment of ovarian cancer.