Graphene Oxide–Chloroquine Nanoconjugate Induce Necroptotic Death in A549 Cancer Cells Through Autophagy Modulation

Aim: Chloroquine (Chl) has shown its potential in cancer therapy and graphene oxide (GO) exhibited excellent tumor-targeting ability, biocompatibility and low toxicity. We have endeavored to conjugate Chl to GO sheets and investigated the nonproliferation action on A549 cell lines along with cell signaling pathways. Materials & methods: Cellular toxicity, autophagic flux modulation and cell death mechanism induced by GO–Chl have been investigated on A549 cell lines. Results & conclusion: GO–Chl induces accumulation of autophagosomes (monodansylcadaverine staining, green fluorescence protein-tagged LC3 plasmid and transmission electron microscopy observations) in A549 cells through the blockade of autophagic flux that serves as scaffold for necrosome assembling and activates necroptotic cell death. GO–Chl nanoconjugate could be used as an effective cancer therapeutic agent, by targeting the autophagy necroptosis axis.