Detailed toxicity evaluation of β-cyclodextrin coated iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Cyclodextrin based nanoparticles for smart drug delivery in colorectal cancer

The advancement of colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention, detection, and treatment is essential to ensure that survivors live longer and higher-quality lives. The field of cancer detection and therapy has undergone a revolution with the development of nanotechnology for targeted drug delivery. The significant problems with the delivery of cancer drugs are their solubility, stability, and nonspecific distribution. There is a challenge that the acidic and enzymatic environment in the digestive tract will modify or destroy the medication or the active pharmaceutical ingredient. To overcome the problems, nanoparticles have been widely employed during the past several years to increase the specificity, selectivity, and controlled release of drug delivery systems. The site-specific and targeted delivery leads to reduce toxicity and side effects. With respect to the capability and utilization of cyclodextrin-based nanoparticles in different aspects of the tumour microenvironment and gut microbiota, a survey of current research papers was conducted via looking through databases including GoogleScholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. This review aims to summarize cutting-edge nanoparticulate-based technologies and therapies for CRC.

Iron oxide nanoparticles carried by probiotics for iron absorption: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

One-third of the world's population has anemia, contributing to higher morbidity and death and impaired neurological development. Conventional anemia treatment raises concerns about iron bioavailability and gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects. This research aims to establish how iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) interact with probiotic cells and how they affect iron absorption, bioavailability, and microbiota variation.

METHODS

Pointing to the study of the literature and developing a review and critical synthesis, a robust search methodology was utilized by the authors. The literature search was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Information was collected between January 2017 and June 2022 using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) protocols for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We identified 122 compatible research articles.

RESULTS

The research profile of the selected scientific articles revealed the efficacy of IONPs treatment carried by probiotics versus conventional treatment. Therefore, the authors employed content assessment on four topics to synthesize previous studies. The key subjects of the reviewed reports are the characteristics of the IONPs synthesis method, the evaluation of cell absorption and cytotoxicity of IONPs, and the transport of IONPs with probiotics in treating anemia.

CONCLUSIONS

To ensure a sufficient iron level in the enterocyte, probiotics with the capacity to attach to the gut wall transport IONPs into the enterocyte, where the maghemite nanoparticles are released.

Cell-Penetrating Peptidic GRP78 Ligand-Conjugated Iron Oxide Magnetic Nanoparticles for Tumor-Targeted Doxorubicin Delivery and Imaging

Although chemotherapy is regarded as an essential option in cancer treatment, it is still far from being perfect. Inadequate tumor drug concentration and systemic toxicity along with broad biodistribution have diminished the utility of chemotherapy. Tumor-targeting peptide-conjugated multifunctional nanoplatforms have emerged as an effective strategy for site-directed tumor tissues in cancer treatment and imaging. Herein, Pep42-targeted iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (IONPs) functionalized with β-cyclodextrin (ßCD) containing doxorubicin (DOX) (Fe₃O₄-ßCD-Pep42-DOX) were successfully developed. The physical effects of the prepared NPs were characterized by employing various techniques. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images disclosed that the developed Fe₃O₄-ßCD-Pep42-DOX nanoplatforms had a spherical morphology and a core-shell structure with a size of nearly 17 nm. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy showed that β-cyclodextrin, DOX, and Pep42 molecules were successfully loaded on the IONPs. In vitro cytotoxicity analysis revealed that the fabricated multifunctional Fe₃O₄-ßCD-Pep42 nanoplatforms possessed excellent biosafety toward BT-474, MDA-MB468 (cancerous cells), and MCF10A normal cells, while Fe₃O₄-ßCD-Pep42-DOX exhibited great cancer cell killing ability. The high cellular uptake along with intracellular trafficking of Fe₃O₄-ßCD-Pep42-DOX highlights the usefulness of the Pep42-targeting peptide. In vivo results strongly supported the in vitro results, i.e., significant tumor size reduction was observed by single-dose injection of Fe₃O₄-ßCD-Pep42-DOX into tumor-bearing mice. Interestingly, in vivo MR imaging (MRI) of Fe₃O₄-ßCD-Pep42-DOX revealed T₂ contrast improvement in the tumor cells and therapeutic ability in cancer theranostics. Taken together, these findings provided strong evidence for the potential capability of Fe₃O₄-ßCD-Pep42-DOX as a multifunctional nanoplatform in cancer therapy and imaging and opens up a new avenue of research in this area.

Recent innovation and impacts of nano-based technologies for wastewater treatment on humans: a review

Sustainable wastewater management requires environment-friendly, efficient, and cost-effective methods of water treatment. The ever-growing list of emerging contaminants in municipal wastewater requires advanced, efficient, and cost-effective techniques for its treatment to combat the increasing water demand. The nano-based technologies hold great potential in improving water treatment efficiency and augmenting the water supply. However, the environmental effects of these technologies are still questionable among the public and scientific community. The present review discusses risks to human health due to the use of nano-based technology for the removal of emerging contaminants in water. The discussion will be about the impacts of these technologies on humans. Recommendations about safe and environmentally friendly options for nano-based technology for water treatment have been included. Safest options of nano-based technologies for water treatment and steps to minimize the risk associated with them have also been incorporated in this article. Since all biological systems are different, separate risk analyses should be performed at the environmentally relevant concentration for different durations. There is little/no information on the quantitative impact on humans and requires more understanding. The quantitative measurement of the cellular uptake of nanoparticles is usually difficult. We hope this article will serve its purpose for water researchers, medical researchers, environmentalists, policymakers, and the government.

Self-Assembly of Cyclodextrin-Coated Nanoparticles:Fabrication of Functional Nanostructures for Sensing and Delivery

In recent years, the bottom-up approach has emerged as a powerful tool in the fabrication of functional nanomaterials through the self-assembly of nanoscale building blocks. The cues embedded at the molecular level provide a handle to control and direct the assembly of nano-objects to construct higher-order structures. Molecular recognition among the building blocks can assist their precise positioning in a predetermined manner to yield nano- and microstructures that may be difficult to obtain otherwise. A well-orchestrated combination of top-down fabrication and directed self-assembly-based bottom-up approach enables the realization of functional nanomaterial-based devices. Among the various available molecular recognition-based "host-guest" combinations, cyclodextrin-mediated interactions possess an attractive attribute that the interaction is driven in aqueous environments, such as in biological systems. Over the past decade, cyclodextrin-based specific host-guest interactions have been exploited to design and construct structural and functional nanomaterials based on cyclodextrin-coated metal nanoparticles. The focus of this review is to highlight recent advances in the self-assembly of cyclodextrin-coated metal nanoparticles driven by the specific host-guest interaction.

Green biosynthesis of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles using Mentha longifolia for imatinib mesylate delivery

In this work, the rapid, facile, and eco-friendly green process was introduced in the preparation of β-cyclodextrin/magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles by using the aqueous Mentha longifolia extracts of Mentha longifolia. The obtained nanoparticles were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray powder diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, and thermogravimetric analysis. Also, effective factors on the synthesis of magnetic nanocomposites including temperature, concentration of the Mentha longifolia extract, and concentration of FeSO₄ solution were optimised by Taguchi design. Moreover, important effective parameters on the adsorption efficiency; such as adsorbent dosage, pH, contact time, and temperature were investigated. The prepared magnetic nanocomposite was applied as a nanocarrier for imatinib mesylate delivery. In vitro studies confirmed imatinib mesylate release over 6 h. The nanocarrier showed pH-dependent imatinib mesylate release with higher drug release at simulated cancer fluid (pH = 5.6) compared to neural fluid (pH = 7.4). Moreover, the sorption isotherms and kinetics for the magnetic nanocomposite were fitted into Langmuir and pseudo-second order models, respectively. Based on the thermodynamic results, the adsorption of imatinib mesylate onto the nanoadsorbent was found to be spontaneous and exothermic.

Impact of surface chemistry of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles on protein corona formation and endothelial cell uptake, toxicity, and barrier function

Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPION) have been investigated for biomedical applications, including novel contrast agents, magnetic tracers for tumor imaging, targeted drug delivery vehicles, and magneto-mechanical actuators for hyperthermia and thrombolysis. Despite significant progress, recent clinical reports have raised concerns regarding USPION safety related to endothelial cell dysfunction; however, there is limited information on factors contributing to these clinical responses. The influence of USPION surface chemistry on nanoparticle interactions with proteins may impact endothelial cell function leading to adverse responses. Therefore, the goal of this study was to assess the effects of carboxyl-functionalized USPION (CU) or amine-functionalized USPION (AU) (∼30 nm diameter) on biological responses in human coronary artery endothelial cells. Increased protein adsorption was observed for AU compared to CU after exposure to serum proteins. Exposure to CU, but not AU, resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability and perinuclear accumulation inside cytoplasmic vesicles. Internalization of CU was correlated with endothelial cell functional changes under non-cytotoxic conditions, as evidenced by a marked decreased expression of endothelial-specific adhesion proteins (e.g., VE-cadherin and PECAM-1) and increased endothelial permeability. Evaluation of downstream signaling indicated endothelial permeability is associated with actin cytoskeleton remodeling, possibly elicited by intracellular events involving reactive oxygen species, calcium ions, and the nanoparticle cellular uptake pathway. This study demonstrated that USPION surface chemistry significantly impacts protein adsorption and endothelial cell uptake, viability, and barrier function. This information will advance the current toxicological profile of USPION and improve development, safety assessment, and clinical outcomes of USPION-enabled medical products.

An On-off Supramolecular Fluorescence Switch for Detection of Pb2+ Ions and Vitamin C

β-cyclodextrin-hydroxyquinoline functionalized graphene oxide (GO-CD-HQ) was facilely fabricated to monitor and quantitatively analyze cations in aqueous media. The optical probe was notably selective enhanced toward Pb²⁺ ions over the other tested ions like Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Ag⁺, Mg²⁺, and Cd²⁺ at 468 nm as an emission wavelength. The probe was shown the best performance in pH value, 5, and optimum time 1 min. Absorption spectra have clearly confirmed the static type fluorescence enhancement mechanism of GO-CD-HQ. Under the optimal conditions, the detection limit of it and linear concentration range for Pb²⁺ ions were obtained as 3.72 × 10^-5 M and (5-60) × 10^-5 M, respectively. Additionally, the developed assay exhibited logic gate behavior with Pb²⁺ ions and vitamin C as a masking agent for cited ions.

Organ-specific toxicity of magnetic iron oxide-based nanoparticles

The unique properties of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles determined their widespread use in medical applications, the food industry, textile industry, which in turn led to environmental pollution. These factors determine the long-term nature of the effect of iron oxide nanoparticles on the body. However, studies in the field of chronic nanotoxicology of magnetic iron particles are insufficient and scattered. Studies show that toxicity may be increased depending on oral and inhalation routes of administration rather than injection. The sensory nerve pathway can produce a number of specific effects not seen with other routes of administration. Organ systems showing potential toxic effects when injected with iron oxide nanoparticles include the nervous system, heart and lungs, the thyroid gland, and organs of the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS). A special place is occupied by the reproductive system and the effect of nanoparticles on the health of the first and second generations of individuals exposed to the toxic effects of iron oxide nanoparticles. This knowledge should be taken into account for subsequent studies of the toxicity of iron oxide nanoparticles. Particular attention should be paid to tests conducted on animals with pathologies representing human chronic socially significant diseases. This part of preclinical studies is almost in its infancy but of great importance for further medical translation on nanomaterials to practice.

Intravenously administered d-mannitol-coated maghemite nanoparticles cause elemental anomalies in selected rat organs

In this study novel d-mannitol coated maghemite nanoparticles (MIONPs) are presented in terms of their influence on elemental homeostasis of living organisms and for this purpose highly sensitive total reflection X-ray fluorescence was used. Because of the biological indifference of d-mannitol and presumed lower toxicity of maghemite, compared to the most commonly used magnetite in nanomedicine, such nanoparticles seem to be promising candidates for biomedical applications. The examined dose of MIONPs was comparable with one of the lowest doses used in medical diagnostics. However, it should be emphasized that the amount of iron injected in this form is still significant compared to its total content in organs, especially in kidneys or the heart, and may easily disrupt their elemental homeostasis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the elemental changes occurring in selected rat organs after injecting a low dose of MIONPs. The results were compared with those obtained for previously examined PEG-coated nanoparticles with magnetite cores. In the light of our findings the elemental changes observed after exposure to MIONPs were less extensive than those following PEG-coated magnetite nanoparticle administration.

Synthesis of a novel β-cyclodextrin-functionalized Fe3O4/BaMoO4:Dy3+ magnetic luminescent hybrid nanomaterial and its application as a drug carrier

Magnetic luminescent hybrid nanoparticles Fe3O4/BaMoO4:Dy3+ (MLHNPs) were successfully synthesized by the co-precipitation method using ethylene glycol. The MLHNPs are functionalized with β-cyclodextrin (CD) using 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES). The surface functionalization of nanoparticles and their conjugation have been confirmed via powder XRD, FTIR, HRTEM, and PL analyses. The feasibility of functionalized MLHNPs as nanocarriers for hydrophobic drugs (triazole derivatives) was verified by studying the uptake and release profile using a triazole derivative as a hydrophobic drug. In addition, the photoluminescence spectroscopy results confirmed the optical imaging capability of MLHNPs. The outcomes of loading and release disclose that this system is likely to be a suitable tool as a hydrophobic drug carrier.

Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle (IONP) Synthesis to Applications: Present and Future

Iron oxides are chemical compounds which have different polymorphic forms, including γ-Fe2O3 (maghemite), Fe3O4 (magnetite), and FeO (wustite). Among them, the most studied are γ-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4, as they possess extraordinary properties at the nanoscale (such as super paramagnetism, high specific surface area, biocompatible etc.), because at this size scale, the quantum effects affect matter behavior and optical, electrical and magnetic properties. Therefore, in the nanoscale, these materials become ideal for surface functionalization and modification in various applications such as separation techniques, magnetic sorting (cells and other biomolecules etc.), drug delivery, cancer hyperthermia, sensing etc., and also for increased surface area-to-volume ratio, which allows for excellent dispersibility in the solution form. The current methods used are partially and passively mixed reactants, and, thus, every reaction has a different proportion of all factors which causes further difficulties in reproducibility. Direct active and complete mixing and automated approaches could be solutions to this size- and shape-controlled synthesis, playing a key role in its exploitation for scientific or technological purposes. An ideal synthesis method should be able to allow reliable adjustment of parameters and control over the following: fluctuation in temperature; pH, stirring rate; particle distribution; size control; concentration; and control over nanoparticle shape and composition i.e., crystallinity, purity, and rapid screening. Iron oxide nanoparticle (IONP)-based available clinical applications are RNA/DNA extraction and detection of infectious bacteria and viruses. Such technologies are important at POC (point of care) diagnosis. IONPs can play a key role in these perspectives. Although there are various methods for synthesis of IONPs, one of the most crucial goals is to control size and properties with high reproducibility to accomplish successful applications. Using multiple characterization techniques to identify and confirm the oxide phase of iron can provide better characterization capability. It is very important to understand the in-depth IONP formation mechanism, enabling better control over parameters and overall reaction and, by extension, properties of IONPs. This work provides an in-depth overview of different properties, synthesis methods, and mechanisms of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) formation, and the diverse range of their applications. Different characterization factors and strategies to confirm phase purity in the IONP synthesis field are reviewed. First, properties of IONPs and various synthesis routes with their merits and demerits are described. We also describe different synthesis strategies and formation mechanisms for IONPs such as for: wustite (FeO), hematite (α-Fe2O3), maghemite (ɤ-Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4). We also describe characterization of these nanoparticles and various applications in detail. In conclusion, we present a detailed overview on the properties, size-controlled synthesis, formation mechanisms and applications of IONPs.

Regeneration of hyaline cartilage in osteochondral lesion model using L-lysine magnetic nanoparticles labeled mesenchymal stem cells and their in vivo imaging

Treatment of osteochondral defects continues to pose a major challenge for patients and orthopedic surgeons due to the limited healing potential of articular cartilage. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess therapeutic potential for the treatment of osteochondral pain and pathology. However, it is necessary to use proper labeling and imaging agent of stem cells that can decipher its role posttransplantation. A major limitation of routinely used contrast agents is signal dilution over a period of time which limits its use for further studies. At the same time, regeneration of fibrocartilage over native hyaline cartilage also limits the use of conventional therapies. The present study evaluates the efficacy of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) for the treatment of osteochondral defect in rats with the regeneration of hyaline cartilage in situ and in vivo monitoring of the stem cells using L-lysine functionalized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (lys-IONPs). L-lysine stabilizes the iron oxide nanoparticles, enhances the biocompatibility, and provides functionalities for efficient stem cell labeling. in vitro toxic effects of lys-IONPs on mitochondrial impairment, morphological alterations, and actin cytoskeleton reveal minimum damage to BM-MSCs. Histological data (H and E, Masson's trichrome and immunohistochemistry) describe the early initiation of healing and regeneration of hyaline-like cartilage over fibrocartilage in stem cell treated groups. MR scans demonstrate generation of hypointense signals in lys-IONPs-BMSCs with improved signal intensity and minimum loss over 28 days revealing its use as a long-term stem cell labeling and imaging agent.

Synthesis of photoluminescent glycodendrimer with terminal β-cyclodextrin molecules as a biocompatible pH-sensitive carrier for doxorubicin delivery

In the present research, we prepared new glycodendrimer containing β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in three steps. At first, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) synthesized through pyrolysis of the citric acid (CA). Then the polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer was grown from the surface of the modified GQDs (GQDs-PAMAM). Finally, the prepared GQDs-PAMAM was functionalized with β-CD to obtain the glycodendrimer (GQDs-PAMAM-β-CD). The synthesized glycodendrimer characterized using several techniques. The phenol-sulfuric acid test obtained the amount of the β-CD about 30.37 %. 61.2 % of doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded in the prepared glycodendrimer. DOX@GQDs-PAMAM-β-CD displayed the pH-sensitive drug release profile, which fitted the Higuchi kinetic model. The biological test outcomes showed that the GQDs-PAMAM-β-CD is a safe carrier with good capability in penetration to the cancer cells. Moreover, DOX@GQDs-PAMAM-β-CD exhibited more efficiency in the killing of the cancer cells compared to neat DOX. Obtained results suggested that prepared glycodendrimer could be a potential nanosystem for breast cancer treatment.

A pH-responsive citric-acid/α-cyclodextrin-functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles as a nanocarrier for quercetin: An experimental and DFT study

Developing new nanocarriers and understanding the interactions between the drug and host molecules in the nanocarrier at the molecular level is of importance for future of nanomedicine. In this work, we synthesized and characterized a series of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) functionalized with different organic molecules (citric acid, α-cyclodextrin, and citric acid/α-cyclodextrin composite). It was found that incorporation of citric acid into the α-cyclodextrin had negligible effect on the adsorption efficiency (<5%) of citric acid/α-cyclodextrin functionalized IONPs, while the isotherm adsorption data were well described by the Langmuir isotherm model (q_max = 2.92 mg/g at T = 25 °C and pH = 7). In addition, the developed nanocarrier showed pH-responsive behavior for releasing the quercetin molecules as drug model, where the Korsmeyer-Peppas model could describe the release profile with Fickian diffusion (n < 0.45 for at all pH and temperatures). Then, Density functional theory was applied to calculate the absolute binding energies (ΔE_b) of the complexation of quercetin with different host molecules in the developed nanocarriers. The calculated energies are as follow: 1) quercetin and citric acid: ΔE_b = -16.58 kcal/mol, 2) quercetin and α-cyclodextrin: ΔE_b = -46.98 kcal/mol, and 3) quercetin and citric acid/α-cyclodextrin composite: ΔE_b = -40.15 kcal/mol. It was found that quercetin tends to interact with all hosts via formation of hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the as-developed nanocarriers was evaluated using MTT assay and both normal NIH-3T3 and cancereous HeLa cells. The cell viability results showed that the quercetin could be delivered effectively to the HeLa cells due to the acidic environment inside the cells with minimum effect on the viability of NIH-3T3 cells. These results might open a new window to design of stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for drug delivery applications.

Hierarchically Porous Composite Scaffold Composed of SBA-15 Microrods and Reduced Graphene Oxide Functionalized with Cyclodextrin for Water Purification

Large-scale decontamination of bisphenol A (BPA) from wastewater under field conditions is an urgent need because of the harmful toxic effects of BPA on living organisms. In this study, we report the fabrication of a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchically porous composite scaffold composed of mesoporous SBA-15 silica microrods and reduced graphene oxide (rGO-CD) functionalized with β-cyclodextrin (CD) and its application for BPA separation from contaminated water. The macroporous structure was achieved by sacrificial salt leaching, and the mesoporous structure was derived from the interparticle pores between compressed SBA-15 particles and intrinsic mesopores in SBA-15. The 3D hierarchical macroporous and mesoporous architecture of the scaffold enhances mass transport without any external forces, and the rGO-CD component provides good capture sites for BPA in solution via inclusion complexation between CD and BPA. The inorganic SBA-15 component of the scaffold also allows long-term operation of filters by increasing the mechanical strength of the scaffold. The hierarchically porous SBA-15/rGO-CD composite scaffold could separate BPA from contaminated water significantly better than the scaffold without rGO-CD in both batch and filter systems. Our study indicates that the functional hierarchically porous composite scaffold can be a potential material in wastewater treatment technology.

Intrinsic Antibacterial Activity of Nanoparticles Made of β-Cyclodextrins Potentiates Their Effect as Drug Nanocarriers against Tuberculosis

Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem, concerning about half a million cases each year. Patients hardly adhere to the current strict treatment consisting of more than 10 000 tablets over a 2-year period. There is a clear need for efficient and better formulated medications. We have previously shown that nanoparticles made of cross-linked poly-β-cyclodextrins (pβCD) are efficient vehicles for pulmonary delivery of powerful combinations of anti-TB drugs. Here, we report that in addition to being efficient drug carriers, pβCD nanoparticles are endowed with intrinsic antibacterial properties. Empty pβCD nanoparticles are able to impair Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) establishment after pulmonary administration in mice. pβCD hamper colonization of macrophages by Mtb by interfering with lipid rafts, without inducing toxicity. Moreover, pβCD provoke macrophage apoptosis, leading to depletion of infected cells, thus creating a lung microenvironment detrimental to Mtb persistence. Taken together, our results suggest that pβCD nanoparticles loaded or not with antibiotics have an antibacterial action on their own and could be used as a carrier in drug regimen formulations effective against TB.

Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticles for Complex Targeted Delivery and Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) and their surface modification with therapeutic substances are of great interest, especially drug delivery for cancer therapy, including boron-neutron capture therapy (BNCT). In this paper, we present the results of boron-rich compound (carborane borate) attachment to previously aminated by (3-aminopropyl)-trimethoxysilane (APTMS) iron oxide NPs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with Attenuated total reflectance accessory (ATR-FTIR) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis confirmed the change of the element content of NPs after modification and formation of new bonds between Fe₃O₄ NPs and the attached molecules. Transmission (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed Fe₃O₄ NPs’ average size of 18.9 nm. Phase parameters were studied by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the magnetic behavior of Fe₃O₄ NPs was elucidated by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The colloidal and chemical stability of NPs was studied using simulated body fluid (phosphate buffer—PBS). Modified NPs have shown excellent stability in PBS (pH = 7.4), characterized by XRD, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Biocompatibility was evaluated in-vitro using cultured mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). The results show us an increasing of IC₅₀ from 0.110 mg/mL for Fe₃O₄ NPs to 0.405 mg/mL for Fe₃O₄-Carborane NPs. The obtained data confirm the biocompatibility and stability of synthesized NPs and the potential to use them in BNCT.

A Novel Metal-Based Imaging Probe for Targeted Dual-Modality SPECT/MR Imaging of Angiogenesis

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with well-integrated multimodality imaging properties have generated increasing research interest in the past decade, especially when it comes to the targeted imaging of tumors. Bevacizumab (BCZM) on the other hand is a well-known and widely applied monoclonal antibody recognizing VEGF-A, which is overexpressed in angiogenesis. The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to develop a dual-modality nanoplatform for in vivo targeted single photon computed emission tomography (SPECT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of tumor vascularization. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have been coated with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), for consequent functionalization with the monoclonal antibody BCZM radiolabeled with 99mTc, via well-developed surface engineering. The IONPs were characterized based on their size distribution, hydrodynamic diameter and magnetic properties. In vitro cytotoxicity studies showed that our nanoconstruct does not cause toxic effects in normal and cancer cells. Fe3O4-DMSA-SMCC-BCZM-99mTc were successfully prepared at high radiochemical purity (>92%) and their stability in human serum and in PBS were demonstrated. In vitro cell binding studies showed the ability of the Fe3O4-DMSA-SMCC-BCZM-99mTc to bind to the VEGF-165 isoform overexpressed on M-165 tumor cells. The ex vivo biodistribution studies in M165 tumor-bearing SCID mice showed high uptake in liver, spleen, kidney and lungs. The Fe3O4-DMSA-SMCC-BCZM-99mTc demonstrated quick tumor accumulation starting at 8.9 ± 1.88%ID/g at 2 h p.i., slightly increasing at 4 h p.i. (16.21 ± 2.56%ID/g) and then decreasing at 24 h p.i. (6.01 ± 1.69%ID/g). The tumor-to-blood ratio reached a maximum at 24 h p.i. (~7), which is also the case for the tumor-to-muscle ratio (~18). Initial pilot imaging studies on an experimental gamma-camera and a clinical MR camera prove our hypothesis and demonstrate the potential of Fe3O4-DMSA-SMCC-BCZM-99mTc for targeted dual-modality imaging. Our findings indicate that Fe3O4-DMSA-SMCC-BCZM-99mTc IONPs could serve as an important diagnostic tool for biomedical imaging as well as a promising candidate for future theranostic applications in cancer.

Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications: A Perspective on Synthesis, Drugs, Antimicrobial Activity, and Toxicity

Medical applications and biotechnological advances, including magnetic resonance imaging, cell separation and detection, tissue repair, magnetic hyperthermia and drug delivery, have strongly benefited from employing iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) due to their remarkable properties, such as superparamagnetism, size and possibility of receiving a biocompatible coating. Ongoing research efforts focus on reducing drug concentration, toxicity, and other side effects, while increasing efficacy of IONPs-based treatments. This review highlights the methods of synthesis and presents the most recent reports in the literature regarding advances in drug delivery using IONPs-based systems, as well as their antimicrobial activity against different microorganisms. Furthermore, the toxicity of IONPs alone and constituting nanosystems is also addressed.

Investigation of HSA as a biocompatible coating material for arsenic trioxide nanoparticles

The synthesis of human serum albumin coated As₂O₃ NPs with improved biocompatibility.