Zirconia Nanoparticles Induce HeLa Cell Death Through Mitochondrial Apoptosis and Autophagy Pathways Mediated by ROS.

ABSTRACT: Zirconia nanoparticles (ZrO₂ NPs) are commonly used in the field of biomedical materials, but their antitumor activity and mechanism is unclear. Herein, we evaluated the anti-tumor activity of ZrO₂ NPs and explored the anti-tumor mechanism. The results of in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HeLa cells was elevated after ZrO₂ NPs treatment. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that after treatment with ZrO₂ NPs, the mitochondria of HeLa cells were swollen, accompanied with the induction of autophagic vacuoles. In addition, flow cytometry analysis showed that the apoptotic rate of HeLa cells increased significantly by Annexin staining after treatment with Zr

SUBMITTER: Shang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8007972 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature