Functionalized tin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles for targeted therapy of triple-negative breast cancer: Evaluation of cytogenetic toxicity

In our previous study, we synthesized tin-conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN-SnPh3; S3) and reported their enhanced selective toxicity towards breast cancer cells in vitro. Hence, to validate our hypothesis on the inhibition of growth of breast tumor in mice, we conducted in vivo antitumor studies of S3 in Balb/C mice model. The results demonstrated a higher percentage of reactive oxygen species production, presence of more apoptotic cells along with reduced expression of the Ki -67 protein, indicating decreased cell proliferation and antitumor activity. The safety assessment of S3 as an anticancer agent was evaluated and revealed no significant abnormalities in the different organs and changes in serum biochemical parameters of tumor mice suggesting that S3 did not affect basic metabolism. Genotoxicity studies also confirmed that S3 did not exhibit clastogenic, aneugenic, or mitotoxic properties in the bone marrow cells of Swiss albino mice. Apart from this, S3 demonstrated high bio-compatibility and did not induce any histopathological changes in all the vital organs of mice. Therefore, these comprehensive investigations on the antitumor properties of tin-conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (S3), particularly in reducing breast cancer tumors, warrant further exploration to uncover their potential as therapeutic agents for cancer treatment.