Effect of γ-Al 2 O 3 Nanostructure Surface Morphology on Lipid Peroxidation and Cathepsin Activity in Neuro-2a Neuroblastoma Cells

The use of nanostructured aluminum oxides for biomedical applications is promising due to their developed surface, chemical stability, low toxicity and high biological activity against tumor cells. However, there is still a lack of understanding of the key processes that determine such therapeutic effect of these reagents. The concentration of thiobarbituric acid products, oxidized modified protein forms, the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and cathepsin D in tumor cells treated with nanostructures in the form of nanoflowers, nanoplates and nanorods were determined. The results showed that the different γ-Al 2 O 3 morphologies have different effects on the concentration of lipid peroxidation product and cathepsin D activity. The most pronounced effect has been demonstrated by hexagonal nanorods nanostructures and nanoplates with the decreased malondialdehyde level and free cathepsin activity. Flower shaped nanostructures have demonstrated a less pronounced effect on lipid peroxidation product, the nanostructures having an effect on the catalase activity, a powerful enzyme of anti-peroxide protection. The results obtained are of great importance to substantiate the use of nanoparticles as drugs in the treatment of malignant neoplasms.