Inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway with copper oxide nanoparticles from Houttuynia cordata plant: attenuating the proliferation of cervical cancer cells
Authors: Ibrahim Abdel Aziz Ibrahim
Xiaojie Feng
Mazen M Ghaith
Riyad A Almaimani
Hussain A Almasmoum
Anand Paramasivam
Suresh Mickymaray
Ling Gao
Faiz Abdulaziz Alfaiz
Hongmin Chen
Journal: Artificial Cells Nanomedicine and Biotechnology (2021)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: Cervical cancer; CuO nanoparticle; Houttuynia cordata; anticancer drug; green synthesis
Affiliations: Department of Gynaecology, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou City, China., Department of Biology, College of Science, Al-Zulfi, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia., Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Dentistry, Al-Zulfi, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia., Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia., Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract:  Cervical cancer is the most important female genital cancer that develops from the cervix, a lower part of uterus. Houttuynia cordata is ubiquitously present in Asian countries, and traditionally prescribed to treat infections and oedema. Our study emphasizes on biological synthesis route for developing copper nanocomplex using Houttuynia cordata (Hc-CuONPs) plant extract. The UV-visible spectroscopy study of Hc-CuONPs revealed the maximum peak at 350 nm, which proved the formation of Hc-CuONPs and FT-IR absorption peaks revealed the existence of different functional groups. The results of high-resolution TEM and X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the Hc-CuONPs have face centred cubic structure along with 40-45 nm in size. The temperature conditions of the synthesized Hc-CuONPs were spherical and circular morphologies. Furthermore, the Hc-CuONPs (IC50=5 ¬µg/ml) exhibited toxicity on cervical cancer cells (HeLa). The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in the control and Hc-CuONPs-treated HeLa cells was monitored by DCFH-DA staining and the apoptotic cell death was detected by using the dual (AO/EtBr) staining, propidium iodide and DAPI staining assays. Our results from the fluorescent staining analysis evidenced that the Hc-CuONPs have inhibited the cell proliferation and promoted the apoptotic cell death in HeLa cells. The Hc-CuONPs promoted the apoptosis by targeting the PI3K/Akt signalling pathways in HeLa cells. Our results explored that the Hc-CuONPs are effective against in vitro HeLa cancer cells. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This paper lacks any proof that they are actually studying nano particles. By mixing some green stuff with copper oxide they apparently expect nano particle to appear in a magical way. The only images they provide (with enough resolution) is two images showing an aggregate of something. There are a lot of serious errors in this paper, which makes me wondering if there is any peer reviewing in this journal. E.g. in Figure 4, the  XRD analysis is cell viability data, and the TEM images are cell images taken from Figure 6 (Hela cells)!  , 
 Correction, [8 May 2021] . ------------------------------------------------ This article was originally published with the figures arranged incorrectly. The figures have now been correctly placed and the article has been republished. Correct Arrangement of Figures are: Figure 3: Analysis of Houttuynia cordata crude extract using FTIR.  Figure 4: Analysis of Hc-CuONPs using HR-TEM and XRD analysis.  ,