(189h) Platinum Nanoparticles As a Therapeutic for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Nanotechnology has transformed cancer therapy by providing novel methods for detection, targeted medication delivery, and treatment. Noble metals like gold, silver, or palladium have shown significant promise in the field of nanomedicine. Platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) in particular have remarkable anticancer efficacy while maintaining little harm to healthy cells. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) representing one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat subtypes. TNBC is characterized by the absence of the three prevalent receptors utilized in targeted therapies and has a tendency for rapid metastasis. Thus, TNBC has the worst prognosis, and chemotherapy is frequently the only therapeutic choice. Current treatment includes platinum-based chemotherapy like cisplatin, which works by entering the cell, binding to the DNA, and breaking the DNA, effectively disabling the cell’s ability to proliferate. However, it has several limitations and is associated with adverse consequences like toxicity in the kidneys, heart, and liver and alteration of the normal activity of the nervous system. Hence, in this work, PtNPs were developed as an alternative treatment for TNBC. The cell viability study using PtNPs for TNBC, double-positive breast cancer, cisplatin-resistant uterine sarcoma, and cardiac fibroblasts demonstrates that PtNPs function similarly to cisplatin, selectively targeting the rapidly multiplying TNBC while not harming healthy cells. The mechanism of action of PtNPs was further investigated through reactive oxidative species (ROS) studies indicating that ROS generation is not a contributing factor to cancer cell death. Additionally, platinum ion release studies were conducted which confirm the release of Pt ions from the PtNPs. In vivo studies were performed to determine the efficacy and biodistrubution of PtNPs in a murine model. In summary, this work provides evidence of a potential new treatment for TNBC based on Pt NPs with no apparent toxicity for healthy cells, overcoming one of the major drawbacks of current treatments.

This research was funded by the New Jersey Health Foundation and METAvivor Foundation.