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Vitamin D delivered through carbon quantum dots modifies cytokine expression and migration in MCF-7 breast cancer
Lutfiye Karcioglu Batur1,2, Cuneyd Yavas3,4, Firuze Kulus3,4
1Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Biruni University, 34015, Istanbul, Türkiye. lbatur@biruni.edu.tr.
Background:
Vitamin D is a crucial regulator of immune responses and has recognized anti-proliferative effects in cancer. However, its clinical use is limited by poor solubility and bioavailability. Nanocarrier systems, such as carbon quantum dots (CQDs), may improve vitamin D delivery and activity.
Methods:
MCF-7 breast cancer cells were treated with free vitamin D or vitamin D-loaded CQDs (CQD-VitD). Cell viability was measured using the WST-8 assay; migration was assessed with a wound-healing assay; and gene expression of IL-6, IL-10, NF-κB, TNF-α, and VDR was analyzed through qRT-PCR.
Results:
CQD-VitD significantly increased cell viability compared to both control and free vitamin D (p < 0.01). Wound-healing assays demonstrated that CQD-VitD markedly inhibited cell migration, while free vitamin D caused moderate wound closure. Gene expression analysis showed that free vitamin D slightly decreased IL-6 and significantly suppressed IL-10 (p < 0.05). Conversely, CQD-VitD strongly upregulated IL-10 (p < 0.001) and NF-κB (p < 0.05), with TNF-α and VDR expression remaining unchanged.
Conclusion:
CQD-based delivery of vitamin D enhances its cellular activity and selectively affects immune-related genes in breast cancer cells. Although CQD-VitD reduced migration and increased cell viability, its upregulation of IL-10 and NF-κB suggests a complex role in tumor-immune interactions. These findings highlight both the potential and the challenges of nanocarrier-mediated vitamin D delivery in breast cancer therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effects of vitamin D-loaded carbon quantum dots on immune-related gene expression in breast cancer cells.
