ABSTRACT
In this study, water-dispersible magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were synthesized with solvothermal method. The nanoparticles were characterized with a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The in vitro magnetic resonance response and photothermal conversion characteristics of the nanoparticles were evaluated. In addition, the cellular uptake, cytotoxicity and biodistribution were studied. Finally, magnetic resonance/photothermal dual-modal imaging effect of the as-synthesized Fe3O4 nanoparticles was investigated in the tumor-bearing mice. The results showed that the obtained magnetic nanoparticles were uniform with a mean diameter of about 125 nm. Moreover, the superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles showed remarkable magnetic resonance response and photothermal conversion properties. The results of cellular experiments showed that the cell viability was nearly 85% even the concentration of the nanoparticles was up to 1 000 μg·mL-1, an indicator of good biocompatibility. In addition, the nanoparticles could be taken up by the tumor cells and then located in the cytoplasm. After intravenous injection, the nanoparticles were tended to enrich in the tumor over time, which is helpful in achieving dual-modal magnetic resonance/photothermal imaging. In sum, the obtained Fe3O4 nanoparticles showed great potential to be applied for multi-modal bio-imaging which may play an important role in the diagnosis of tumors.
ABSTRACT
PEG-modified magnetic Fe3O4 (Fe3O4-PEG) nanoparticles were sythesized using a solvothermal reaction and characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The photothermal effect and photothermal destruction of cancer cells were evaluated. Then the doxorubicin loaded Fe3O4-PEG (DOX-Fe3O4-PEG) nanoparticles were prepared. The cytotoxicity and combined chemotherapy/photothermal therapy (PTT) effect were investigated. Uniform PEG coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles with particle size of 155 nm were obtained in the experiment. The loading and release of doxorubicin on Fe3O4-PEG were pH-dependent. The drug loading capacity in water was 21%. The results of MTT indicated a good biocompatiblity of Fe3O4-PEG nanoparticles and high cytotoxicity of DOX-Fe3O4-PEG. In combined therapy experiment, photothermal therapy demonstrated unambiguously enhanced chemotherapy efficacy. In conclusion, the obtained Fe3O4-PEG nanoparticles which exhibit good photothermal effect and drug loading capacity can be used for chemotherapy and photothermal therapy. The synergetic anti-tumor activity indicates the potential for the combined application of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy in cancer treatment.