Could FA-PG-SPIONs act as a hyperthermia sensitizing agent? An in vitro study

Publication date: Available online 14 September 2018Source: Journal of Thermal BiologyAuthor(s): Hamid Fakhimikabir, Mohamad Bagher Tavakoli, Ali Zarrabi, Alireza Amouheidari, Soheila RahgozarAbstractThe therapeutic effect of polyglycerol coated iron oxide nanoparticles (PG-SPIONs, non-targeted nanoparticles) and folic acid-conjugated polyglycerol coated iron oxide nanoparticles (FA-PG-SPIONs, targeted nanoparticles) in combination with hyperthermia on viability of HeLa cells was investigated. It was observed that coated and uncoated SPIONs have spherical shapes with an average diameter of 17.9±2.85 nm and 5.4±0.75 nm, respectively. The penetration rate for cells treated with targeted nanoparticles was shown to be more than that of non-targeted nanoparticles. Moreover, it was revealed that the treatment of cells with ≥ 50 µg/ml FA-PG-SPIONs in combination with hyperthermia induced cytotoxicity in comparison to control cells. The results also showed that increasing the concentrations of targeted nanoparticles (FA-PG-SPIONs) and heating time would increase the value of thermal enhancement factor (TEF). In contrast, TEF values were not increased with increasing heating time and concentrations of non-targeted nanoparticles (PG-SPIONs). On the other hand, TEF values were increased with increasing concentrations and heating time so that the maximum TEF value was obtained at the highest concentration (FA-PG-SPION, 200 µg/ ml) as well as the longest heating ...
Source: Journal of Thermal Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: research