Journal of Nanomedicine & Biotherapeutic Discovery
Open Access

Abstract

Inhibitory Effects of Trehalose Liposomes against Breast Cancer Cells Leading to Apoptosis in vitro

Keiji Kuwabara, Hideaki Ichihara and Yoko Matsumoto

In this study, the effect of trehalose liposomes (DMTreC14) constituted using α-D-glycopyranosyl-α-Dglucopyranoside monomyristate (TreC14) and L-α-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine, on the growth of the human breast cancer cell-line, MCF-7 was examined. It was observed that DMTreC14 had an inhibitory effect on the growth of MCF-7 cells and caused apoptosis. This was attributed to DMTreC14 induced decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential followed by the release of cytochrome-c and activation of caspase-6 and caspase-9 in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, it was observed that there was an increased accumulation of DMTreC14 in the cell membrane of MCF-7 cells, followed by an increase in the fluidity of the cell membrane. In addition, activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) was also observed upon treatment with DMTreC14.