PEGylated Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle-bound Doxorubicin and Paclitaxel Drugs Affect Prostate Cancer Cells and Alter the Expression of DUSP Family Genes.

Background: PC is among the cancer types with high incidence and mortality. New and effective strategies are being sought for the treatment of deadly cancers, such as PC. In this context, the use of nanocarrier systems containing titanium dioxide can improve treatment outcomes and increase the effectiveness of anticancer drugs.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of doxorubicin (DOX) and paclitaxel (PTX) drugs on the prostate cancer (PC) cell line by attaching them to pegylated titanium dioxide nanoparticles and to examine their effect on the expression levels of dual-specificity phosphatase (DUSP) genes.

Methods: Free DOX and PTX drugs, DOX and PTX compounds bound to the pegylated titanium dioxide system were applied to DU-145 cells, a PC cell line, under in vitro conditions, and MTT analysis was performed. Additionally, the IC50 values of these compounds were analyzed. In addition, the expression levels of DUSP1, DUSP2, DUSP4, DUSP6, and DUSP10 genes were measured using RT-PCR. Additionally, bioinformatics and molecular docking analyses were performed on DUSP proteins.

Results: The cytotoxic activity of PTX compound bound to PEGylated TiO2 was found to be higher than that of DOX compound bound to PEGylated TiO2. Additionally, when the expression levels were compared to the control group, the expression levels of DUSPs were found to be lower in the drugs of the drug carrier systems.

Conclusion: Accordingly, it was predicted that the pegylated titanium dioxide nano-based carrier could be effective in PC.