Radiosensitization of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma by Graphene Oxide Nanosheets to Reduce Bcl-2 Level

There are many treatments for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but none of them are very effective. Radiotherapy is used extensively in NPC treatment, but radioresistance is a major problem. Graphene oxide (GO) has been previously studied in cancer treatment, and this study is aimed to explore its role in radiosensitization of NPC. Therefore, graphene oxide nanosheets were prepared, and the relationship between GO and radioresistance was explored. The GO nanosheets were synthesized by a modified Hummers' method. The morphologies of the GO nanosheets were characterized by field-emission environmental scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The morphological changes and radiosensitivity of C666-1 and HK-1 cells with or without the GO nanosheets were observed by an inverted fluorescence microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). Colony formation assay and Western Blot were applied for analysis of NPC radiosensitivity. The as-synthesized GO nanosheets have lateral dimensions (sizes ∼1 μm) and exhibit a thin wrinkled two-dimensional lamellar structure with slight folds and crimped edges (thickness values ∼1 nm). C666-1 cells with the GO was significantly changed the morphology of cells postirradiation. The full field of view visualized by a microscope showed the shadow of dead cells or cell debris. The synthesized graphene oxide nanosheets inhibited cell proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, and inhibited the expression of Bcl-2 in C666-1 and HK-1 cells but increased the level of Bax. The GO nanosheets could affect the cell apoptosis and reduce the pro-survival protein Bcl-2 related to the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. The GO nanosheets could enhance radiosensitivity, which might be a radioactive material in NPC cells.