Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Radiotherapy Application.

BACKGROUND: Treatment methods for cancer that are widely being utilized affect both normal and cancerous cells. We report synthesis polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) and its characteristic properties and appraise its potential as a promising radiation sensitizer candidate in radiotherapy that improves cancer treatment and reduces side effects of radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PEG-coated Fe3O4 NPs were synthesized by chemical coprecipitation method and characterized by studying their size, structure, functional group, stability, magnetization, and cytotoxicity using different techniques. X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis results show that Fe3O4 NPs have been functionalized with PEG molecules during the course of synthesis. RESULTS: Synthesized NPs have good stability based on zeta-potential study. Dynamic light-scattering results reveal that PEG-coated Fe3O4 has a greater hydrodynamic size than bare Fe3O4. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrograph exhibited that NPs are roughly spherical with size in range of 10-20 nm. Saturation magnetization value of PEG-coated and bare Fe3O4 also confirms coating and shows superparamagnetic behavior. Cytotoxicity evaluation study indicated that PEG-coated Fe3O4 is biocompatible on L929 and toxic on Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) (breast cancer cells). CONCLUSION: These characterized properties of PEG-coated Fe3O4 NPs show that it could be used as a potential radiosensitizer candidate in radiotherapy to significantly improve cancer treatment and minimize painful side effects of radiation.

Use of Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Radio Sensitizer in Enhancing Colorectal Cancer Radiation Efficacy.

Backgorund: The aim of the radiotherapy is to deliver a lethal dose to tumor while reducing the impact on the normal tissue. This reduction in impact can be achieved to have a greater therapeutic ratio by using nanoparticles as radiosensitizer. Materials and Methods: In this article, the potential role of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as radiosensitization enhancer on HT 29 cell lines for different concentrations (0.007to 0.25 mg/ml) and different radiation doses (0.5to 2 Gy) of 6MV photon beam is presented. Results: The highest sensitization enhancement ratio (SER) value was observed with 2 Gy for 0.25 mg/ml concentration. Radio sensitization increases with increase in the concentration of nanoparticles. Combination of 6MV energy radiation and polyethylene glycol (PEG) coated SPIONs results in increasing cell killing of HT 29 as compared to cell killing with radiation therapy alone. Conclusion: The results reveal that PEG coated nanoparticle might be a potential candidate to work as radiotherapy sensitizer in colorectal cancer.