Nanomaterials (Apr 2021)

Biocompatible Magnetic Colloidal Suspension Used as a Tool for Localized Hyperthermia in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cells: Physicochemical Analysis and Complex In Vitro Biological Profile

  • Elena-Alina Moacă,
  • Claudia-Geanina Watz,
  • Vlad Socoliuc,
  • Roxana Racoviceanu,
  • Cornelia Păcurariu,
  • Robert Ianoş,
  • Simona Cîntă-Pînzaru,
  • Lucian Barbu Tudoran,
  • Fran Nekvapil,
  • Stela Iurciuc,
  • Codruța Șoica,
  • Cristina-Adriana Dehelean

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11051189
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 5
p. 1189

Abstract

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Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are the most desired nanomaterials for biomedical applications due to their unique physiochemical properties. A facile single-step process for the preparation of a highly stable and biocompatible magnetic colloidal suspension based on citric-acid-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles used as an effective heating source for the hyperthermia treatment of cancer cells is presented. The physicochemical analysis revealed that the magnetic colloidal suspension had a z-average diameter of 72.7 nm at 25 °C with a polydispersity index of 0.179 and a zeta potential of −45.0 mV, superparamagnetic features, and a heating capacity that was quantified by an intrinsic loss power analysis. Raman spectroscopy showed the presence of magnetite and confirmed the presence of citric acid on the surfaces of the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. The biological results showed that breast adenocarcinoma cells (MDA-MB-231) were significantly affected after exposure to the magnetic colloidal suspension with a concentration of 30 µg/mL 24 h post-treatment under hyperthermic conditions, while the nontumorigenic (MCF-10A) cells exhibited a viability above 90% under the same thermal setup. Thus, the biological data obtained in the present study clearly endorse the need for further investigations to establish the clinical biological potential of synthesized magnetic colloidal suspension for magnetically triggered hyperthermia.

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