Induction of growth arrest in colorectal cancer cells by cold plasma and gold nanoparticles

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Guided treatments with nanoparticles and cold atmospheric plasma are a new approach in cancer therapy. Plasma is an ionized gas that has reactive and energetic particles and can be produced in the laboratory by different methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Plasma jet therapy was employed to irradiate HCT-116 cells (human colorectal cancer cells) which were cultured in the presence of gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Cell cytotoxicity was tested with 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), and cancerous cell apoptosis was shown by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. RESULTS: The results showed that cell death was increased significantly with p < 0.001 by cold atmospheric plasma in the presence of gold nanoparticles. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that non-thermal plasma and gold nanoparticles synergism is a promising approach in colon cancer therapy.