The Cellular Uptake And Cytotoxic Effect Of Silver Nanoparticles On Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells
In this clinical study, published in the Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology, researchers began by saying, “Several studies have suggested that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have the potential to treat human cancers, including leukemia.”
The researchers went on to state that they wanted to study the cellular mechanisms through which “silver nanoparticles inhibit the growth of leukemic cells.” They found that silver nanoparticles enter leukemic cells and locate in endosomes, which are membrane-bound vesicles found in the cytoplasm of virtually every human and animal cell. Once inside the leukemic cell, the silver nanoparticles triggered the generation of reactive oxygen species, causing “cytotoxicity and apoptosis.” In other words, the leukemic cancer cells self-destructed. The researchers concluded, “These results suggested that proper usage of silver nanoparticles would be of great significance for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treatment in future.”
