Iron(III)–Quercetin Complexes’ Safety for MRI Cell Tracking in Cell Therapy Applications: Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Assessment
Nathupakorn Dechsupa,
Panida Kosintarajit,
Kanyapak Kamkan,
Thanyalak Khanjina,
Chonticha Sirikul,
Phattarawadee Innuan,
Authaphinya Suwan,
Nampeung Anukul,
Jiraporn Kantapan
Affiliations
Nathupakorn Dechsupa
Molecular Imaging and Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Department of Radiologic Technology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Panida Kosintarajit
Department of Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Kanyapak Kamkan
Department of Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Thanyalak Khanjina
Department of Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Chonticha Sirikul
Division of Transfusion Science, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Phattarawadee Innuan
Molecular Imaging and Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Department of Radiologic Technology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Authaphinya Suwan
Department of Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Nampeung Anukul
Division of Transfusion Science, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Jiraporn Kantapan
Molecular Imaging and Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Department of Radiologic Technology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
The theranostic agent iron–quercetin complex (IronQ) provides a T1-positive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent. The magnetically IronQ-labeled cells can be used for cell tracking and have active biological applications in promoting cell and tissue regeneration. However, a detailed investigation of IronQ’s cytotoxicity and genotoxicity is necessary. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the possibility of IronQ inducing cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We evaluated the vitality of cells, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the level of antioxidant enzymes, and the stability of the genetic material in PBMCs treated with IronQ. The results show that IronQ had a negligible impact on toxicological parameters such as ROS production and lipid peroxidation, indicating that it is not harmful. IronQ-labeled PMBCs experienced an insignificant depletion of antioxidant enzyme levels at the highest concentration of IronQ. There is no evident genotoxicity in the magnetically IronQ-labeled PBMCs. The results show that IronQ does not potentiate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity effects of the labeled PMBCs and might be safe for therapeutic and cell tracking purposes. These results could provide a reference guideline for the toxicological analysis of IronQ in in vivo studies.
