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Monodispersed lysozyme-functionalized bioactive glass nanoparticles with antibacterial and anticancer activities
Kai Zheng1, Miao Lu, Yufang Liu
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomaterials, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Cauerstrasse 6, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
Biomedical Materials (Bristol, England)
|June 9, 2016
Summary
Highly monodispersed bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGS) functionalized with lysozyme (LY-BGS) exhibit potent antibacterial activity and selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells. This makes LY-BGS a promising candidate for treating bone defects, especially those caused by tumors.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGS) are investigated for their potential in bone regeneration and drug delivery.
- Functionalization of BGS with antimicrobial agents can enhance their therapeutic efficacy.
- Targeted cytotoxicity against cancer cells while sparing healthy cells is a key challenge in cancer therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize lysozyme-functionalized bioactive glass nanoparticles (LY-BGS).
- To evaluate the antibacterial activity of LY-BGS against Gram-positive bacteria.
- To assess the selective cytotoxicity of LY-BGS towards hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of monodispersed spherical BGS using a modified Stöber method.
- Functionalization of BGS with lysozyme (LY) via electrostatic interaction.
- Characterization of LY-BGS morphology, size, and LY content.
- Assessment of hydroxyapatite (HA) formation in simulated body fluid (SBF).
- Evaluation of antibacterial activity against *B. subtilis*.
- In vitro cytotoxicity assays on HepG2 and HUVEC cell lines.
Main Results:
- Synthesized LY-BGS nanoparticles were monodispersed, spherical, and homogeneous in size.
- LY-BGS demonstrated significant antibacterial activity, killing >90% of *B. subtilis* within 24 hours.
- LY-BGS exhibited selective cytotoxicity, effectively killing HepG2 cancer cells while sparing HUVECs.
- Hydroxyapatite formation was retarded on LY-BGS compared to non-functionalized BGS.
Conclusions:
- Lysozyme-functionalized bioactive glass nanoparticles show potent antibacterial properties and selective anticancer activity.
- The observed cytotoxicity window between cancer cells and healthy cells suggests potential for cancer therapy.
- LY-BGS is a promising multifunctional material for biomedical applications, particularly in treating tumor-induced bone defects.
