Triple negative breast cancer had a phenotype characterized by the absence of progesterone and estrogen receptors and lack of HER2 overexpression. In order to find new strategies for treatment, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) in combination with chemotherapeutics were studied and tested as new therapeutic tools. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of SWCNT in the transport of cisplatin (CDDP) for improving its cytotoxic effects on MDA-MB-231 cells.

The nanoconjugates SWCNT-COOH-CDDP were obtained by functionalization of SWCNT with carboxyl groups (SWCNT-COOH) and conjugation with CDDP. MDA-MB-231 cells were exposed to different doses of SWCNT-COOH, SWCNT-COOH-CDDP (0.01 – 2 µg/mL) and CDDP (0.00632 – 1.26 µg/mL) for 24 and 48 h. Cellular viability was monitored through MTT test. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were evaluated using fluorescence and spectrophotometric methods, respectively. The expressions of Nrf2, caspase-3, caspase-8 and Bid proteins were assessed by immunoblotting in the presence of 0.5 and 1 µg/mL nanoconjugates. Also, the effects of SWCNT-COOH-CDDP on cell migration were monitored using Wound healing assay.

The cellular viability decreased, respectively ROS level increased in a time and dose-dependent manner in the presence of nanoconjugates relative to control. Moreover, the level of GSH raised after 24 and 48 h of exposure to 0.5 µg/mL SWCNT-COOH-CDDP, while a decrease until 78.31% was recorded after 48 h in the presence of 1 µg/mL nanoconjugates. The expression of Nrf2 decreased until 33% after 24 h of treatment with 1 µg/mL SWCNT-COOH-CDDP and increased until 80% compared to control (100%) after 48 h. Up-regulation of caspase-3 and caspase-8 and down-regulation of Bid post-exposure to 1 µg/mL SWCNT-COOH-CDDP was noticed. The inhibition of the cell migration was observed after 24 and 48 h of exposure with 1 µg/mL SWCNT-COOH-CDDP. In conclusion, these nanoconjugates induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells, probably by both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, by triggering the oxidative stress mechanisms, and inhibited their migration potential.