Abstract

We report the effects induced by near-infrared apoferritin-PbS (AFt-PbS) nanocomposites on cell cycle progression in non-tumorigenic and cancerous human cells. By using flow cytometry and Annexin V assay, we show that the cell cycle of non-tumorigenic cells is not altered by exposure to AFt-PbS nanoparticles at concentrations up to 1 mg mL -1. In contrast, exposure of human-derived breast cancer cell lines to AFt-PbS at concentrations > 0.2 mg mL -1 triggers apoptotic cell death. The selective death of cancerous cells and the near-infrared fluorescence properties of AFt-PbS could be exploited in both nanomedicine and in vivo imaging studies. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry.