Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42525170›Full record

ArticleMolecular biology reports2026

Vitamin D delivered through carbon quantum dots modifies cytokine expression and migration in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Lutfiye Karcioglu Batur, Cuneyd Yavas, Firuze Kulus, Buse Aslan, Ahsen Pektas, Besa Bilakaya, Nermin Akcali, Elif Sibel Aslan, Furkan Gunen, İsmail Tuncer Degim

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Article in Molecular biology reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Lutfiye Karcioglu BaturDepartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Biruni University, 34015, Istanbul, Türkiye. lbatur@biruni.edu.tr.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4803-9137
Cuneyd YavasDepartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Biruni University, 34015, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Firuze KulusDepartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Biruni University, 34015, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Buse AslanDepartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Biruni University, 34015, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Ahsen PektasDepartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Biruni University, 34015, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Besa BilakayaBiruni University Research Center (B@MER), Biruni University, Merkezefendi, 75 Sk No:1-13 M. G, 34015, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Nermin AkcaliDepartment of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, 10200, Balikesir, Türkiye.
Elif Sibel AslanDepartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Biruni University, 34015, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Furkan GunenDepartment of Medical Oncology, Malatya Training and Research Hospital, Malatya, 44330, Türkiye.
İsmail Tuncer DegimBiruni University Research Center (B@MER), Biruni University, Merkezefendi, 75 Sk No:1-13 M. G, 34015, Istanbul, Türkiye.

Funding

Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu 1919B012468434
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVitamin D is a crucial regulator of immune responses and has recognized anti-proliferative effects in cancer. However, its clinical use is limited by poor solubility and bioavailability. Nanocarrier systems, such as carbon quantum dots (CQDs), may improve vitamin D delivery and activity.

methodsMCF-7 breast cancer cells were treated with free vitamin D or vitamin D-loaded CQDs (CQD-VitD). Cell viability was measured using the WST-8 assay; migration was assessed with a wound-healing assay; and gene expression of IL-6, IL-10, NF-κB, TNF-α, and VDR was analyzed through qRT-PCR.

resultsCQD-VitD significantly increased cell viability compared to both control and free vitamin D (p < 0.01). Wound-healing assays demonstrated that CQD-VitD markedly inhibited cell migration, while free vitamin D caused moderate wound closure. Gene expression analysis showed that free vitamin D slightly decreased IL-6 and significantly suppressed IL-10 (p < 0.05). Conversely, CQD-VitD strongly upregulated IL-10 (p < 0.001) and NF-κB (p < 0.05), with TNF-α and VDR expression remaining unchanged.

conclusionCQD-based delivery of vitamin D enhances its cellular activity and selectively affects immune-related genes in breast cancer cells. Although CQD-VitD reduced migration and increased cell viability, its upregulation of IL-10 and NF-κB suggests a complex role in tumor-immune interactions. These findings highlight both the potential and the challenges of nanocarrier-mediated vitamin D delivery in breast cancer therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effects of vitamin D-loaded carbon quantum dots on immune-related gene expression in breast cancer cells.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsCarbon Quantum DotsCytokinesVitamin DCarbonCell MovementCell ProliferationCell SurvivalFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansInterleukin-10Interleukin-6MCF-7 CellsNF-kappa BQuantum DotsCarbonCytokinesInterleukin-10Interleukin-6NF-kappa BReceptors, CalcitriolTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaVitamin DBreast cancerCarbon quantum dotsCytokine profileNF-κBVitamin D

Identifiers

PMID42525170

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.