Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2025
Using the Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane In Vivo Model to Study Gynecological and Urological Cancers
Published on: January 28, 2020
Gold Nanoparticles Inhibit Extravasation of Canine Osteosarcoma Cells in the Ex Ovo Chicken Embryo Chorioallantoic
Anna Małek1, Marek Wojnicki2, Aleksandra Borkowska3,4
1Department of Small Animal Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
Abstract:
Canine osteosarcoma (OS) is an aggressive bone tumor with high metastatic potential and poor prognosis, mainly due to metastatic disease. Nanomedicine-based agents can be used to improve both primary and metastatic tumor treatment. Recently, gold nanoparticles were shown to inhibit different stages of the metastatic cascade in various human cancers. Here, we assessed the potential inhibitory effect of the glutathione-stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au-GSH NPs) on canine OS cells extravasation, utilizing the ex ovo chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. The calculation of cells extravasation rates was performed using wide-field fluorescent microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy and Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy revealed Au-GSH NPs absorption by OS cells. We demonstrated that Au-GSH NPs are non-toxic and significantly inhibit canine OS cells extravasation rates, regardless of their aggressiveness phenotype. The results indicate that Au-GSH NPs can act as a possible anti metastatic agent for OS treatment. Furthermore, the implemented CAM model may be used as a valuable preclinical platform in veterinary medicine, such as testing anti-metastatic agents.
Insights
Glutathione-stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au-GSH NPs) show promise in treating canine osteosarcoma (OS) by significantly inhibiting cancer cell spread. This nanomedicine approach offers a potential new strategy against metastatic bone cancer in dogs.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary oncology
- Nanomedicine
- Cancer metastasis research
Background:
- Canine osteosarcoma (OS) is an aggressive bone cancer with a high risk of metastasis, leading to poor patient prognosis.
- Nanomedicine offers potential therapeutic strategies for both primary tumors and metastatic disease.
- Gold nanoparticles have demonstrated efficacy in inhibiting cancer metastasis in various human cancer models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the anti-metastatic potential of glutathione-stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au-GSH NPs) against canine osteosarcoma (OS) cells.
- To assess the effect of Au-GSH NPs on the extravasation of canine OS cells using an in vivo model.
- To determine the non-toxicity and cellular uptake of Au-GSH NPs in canine OS cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the ex ovo chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model to study cancer cell extravasation.
- Employed wide-field fluorescent microscopy for quantifying cell extravasation rates.
- Applied transmission electron microscopy and Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy to confirm nanoparticle uptake by OS cells.
Main Results:
- Au-GSH NPs were effectively absorbed by canine OS cells.
- Au-GSH NPs demonstrated no toxicity to the cells.
- A significant inhibition of canine OS cell extravasation rates was observed, irrespective of the tumor's aggressiveness.
Conclusions:
- Au-GSH NPs exhibit significant anti-metastatic properties against canine osteosarcoma.
- These nanoparticles represent a potential therapeutic agent for managing metastatic OS in dogs.
- The CAM model serves as a valuable preclinical platform for evaluating anti-metastatic agents in veterinary medicine.
