Influence of Polymer Shell Molecular Weight on Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Morphology and In Vivo Biodistribution
Roxana Cristina Popescu,
Bogdan Ştefan Vasile,
Diana Iulia Savu,
George Dan Mogoşanu,
Ludovic Everard Bejenaru,
Ecaterina Andronescu,
Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu,
Laurenţiu Mogoantă
Affiliations
Roxana Cristina Popescu
Department of Life and Environmental Physics, Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Street, 077125 Măgurele, Romania
Bogdan Ştefan Vasile
Department of Science and Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1–7 Gheorghe Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Diana Iulia Savu
Department of Life and Environmental Physics, Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Street, 077125 Măgurele, Romania
George Dan Mogoşanu
Department of Pharmacognosy & Phytotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 2 Petru Rareş Street, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Ludovic Everard Bejenaru
Department of Pharmacognosy & Phytotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 2 Petru Rareş Street, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Ecaterina Andronescu
Department of Science and Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1–7 Gheorghe Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu
Department of Science and Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1–7 Gheorghe Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Laurenţiu Mogoantă
Research Center for Microscopic Morphology and Immunology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 2 Petru Rareş Street, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have been extensively used in different biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and magnetic properties. However, different functionalization approaches have been developed to improve their time-life in the systemic circulation. Here, we have synthesized IONPs using a modified Massart method and functionalized them in situ with polyethylene glycol with different molecular weights (20 K and 35 K). The resulting nanoparticles were characterized in terms of morphology, structure, and composition using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). In vivo biodistribution was evaluated in Balb/c mice, the presence of IONP being evidenced through histopathological investigations. IONP morphological characterization showed a change in shape (from spherical to rhombic) and size with molecular weight, while structural characterization proved the obtaining of highly crystalline samples of spinel structured cubic face-centered magnetite. In vivo biodistribution in a mice model proved the biocompatibility of all of the IONP samples. All NPs were cleared through the liver, spleen, and lungs, while bare IONPs were also evidenced in kidneys.
