Therapeutic Potential of Nanoparticle-loaded Hydroxyurea on Proliferation of Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cell Line

Although hydroxyurea is one of the most widely used drugs in treating breast cancer, the useof it leads to some side effects. hence, in order to reduce complications of treatment and increaseits efficiency, drug delivery has been attracted more attention. present study included threestages. the first stage was involved in the synthesis of nanoparticles-loaded hydroxyurea that itscharacteristics were evaluated by using scanning electron microscopy and zetasizer system. in thesecond stage, cultured mcf-7 cells were undergone treatments by hydroxyurea and nanoparticlesloadedhydroxyurea in various concentrations. in the third stage, the mcf-7 was treated by ic50of hydroxyurea and nanoparticles-loaded hydroxyurea which are in combination with radiationand hyperthermia. afterward, the viable of cell, apoptosis, and levels of caspase-8 and-9 proteinswere assessed. the average size and the potential surface of nanoparticles and nanoparticles-loadedhydroxyurea were 26 nm, 48 nm, 3.86 mv, and -29.3 mv, respectively. results of mtt assay andapoptosis represented that the percentage of cytotoxicity in the treated groups by in combinationgroup and nanoparticles-loaded hydroxyurea was significantly increased in comparison withhydroxyurea. this increase was dependent on the concentration of nanoparticles-loadedhydroxyurea. nevertheless, the activity of caspase-8 shows any significant changes, the activityof caspase-9 was significantly increased in the control and treatment groups. we concluded thatnanoparticles-loaded hydroxyurea and it in combination with radiation and hyperthermia inducesmitochondrial-dependent apoptosis by down-regulation of caspase-8 and up-regulation of caspase-9expressions and have higher toxicity effect on mcf-7 cells in comparison with pure hydroxyurea.