International Journal of Nanomedicine (Sep 2022)
Natural Baicalein-Rich Fraction as Radiosensitizer in Combination with Bismuth Oxide Nanoparticles and Cisplatin for Clinical Radiotherapy
Abstract
Noor Nabilah Talik Sisin,1 Nor Fazila Che Mat,1 Raizulnasuha Ab Rashid,1 Norhayati Dollah,2 Khairunisak Abdul Razak,3 Moshi Geso,4 Merfat Algethami,5 Wan Nordiana Rahman1 1School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia; 2Department of Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy and Oncology, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia; 3School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia; 4School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia; 5Faculty of Science, Taif University, Al Hawiyah, Taif, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Wan Nordiana Rahman, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia, Tel +6097677811, Email [email protected]: Chemotherapy has been used in conjunction with radiation therapy to improve the treatment outcomes of cancers. Cisplatin (Cis) is a standard treatment that has been used as a chemotherapeutic drug in medical settings. However, the possibility of complications constrains the treatment due to the exposure of healthy organs to unnecessary radiation and the drugs’ toxicities. As a result, researchers have been looking for non-toxic chemotherapeutic agents which can be used as radiosensitizers, possibly produced from natural derivatives and nano sized materials.Methods: BRF, Cis, and BiONPs were irradiated individually and in combinations with 6 MV of photon beam and 6 MeV of electron beams with 0 to 10 Gy radiation doses on MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and NIH/3T3 cell lines. Then, the experimental sensitization enhancement ratios (SER) of each treatment obtained were compared to the theoretical dose enhancement factor (DEF). The interactions within the BRF-BiONPs (BB) and BRF-Cis-BiONPs (BCB) combinations were also estimated using the Combination Index (CI).Results: BRF induced radiosensitization in all cells under 6 MV photon beam (SER of 1.06 to 1.35), and MDA-MB-231 cells only under 6 MeV electron beam (SER = 1.20). The highest SER values for BiONPs and Cis were obtained from MCF-7 cells under a 6 MeV electron beam (SER of 1.50 and 2.24, respectively). The theoretical DEFs were generally lower than the experimental SERs. Based on the SER and CI relationships, it was estimated that BB and BCB therapy methods interacted in either a synergistic or additive manner.Conclusion: The BRF is found to induce relatively less radiosensitization effects compared to the BiONPs and Cis. The BB and BCB combinations have shown better effects with potential for becoming competently suitable radiosensitizers in breast cancer therapies.Keywords: baicalein, bismuth oxide, nanoparticles, cisplatin, radiosensitization, synergism
