Accumulation and Toxicity of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Cells and Experimental Animals

Abstract

The uptake and distribution of negatively charged superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (SPIONs) in mouse embryonic fibroblasts NIH3T3, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal influenced by SPIONs injected into experimental animals, were visualized and investigated. Cellular uptake and distribution of the SPIONs in NIH3T3 after staining with Prussian Blue were investigated by a bright-field microscope equipped with digital color camera. SPIONs were localized in vesicles, mostly placed near the nucleus. Toxicity of SPION nanoparticles tested with cell viability assay (XTT) was estimated. The viability of NIH3T3 cells remains approximately 95% within 3–24 h of incubation, and only a slight decrease of viability was observed after 48 h of incubation. MRI studies on Wistar rats using a clinical 1.5 T MRI scanner were showing that SPIONs give a negative contrast in the MRI. The dynamic MRI measurements of the SPION clearance from the injection site shows that SPIONs slowly disappear from injection sites and only a low concentration of nanoparticles was completely eliminated within three weeks. No functionalized SPIONs accumulate in cells by endocytic mechanism, none accumulate in the nucleus, and none are toxic at a desirable concentration. Therefore, they could be used as a dual imaging agent: as contrast agents for MRI and for traditional optical biopsy by using Prussian Blue staining.

Biogenic synthesis of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles using inedible borassus flabellifer seed coat: characterization, antimicrobial, antioxidant activity and in vitro cytotoxicity analysis

“…The viability percentage recorded was above 80% in all cases which shows the high cytocompatibilty of the nanoparticles towards the fibroblast cells. Similar results for non toxicity of iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized against NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell line were reported [49]. The biocompatibility of the synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles on erythrocyte cells was investigated.…”

Application of zirconium MOFs in drug delivery and biomedicine

“…MOFs offer several advantages over current DDSs, which are often purely organic or inorganic. The former (liposomes or polymers), although more biocompatible, usually present lower drug payloads [17][18][19], while the latter (gold, iron and silica nanoparticles among others), can offer notably higher drug loadings but are less biocompatible, and their low degradation rate can result in accumulation in the liver or spleen, potentially inducing unwanted side effects (Figure 1) [20][21][22]. The organic/inorganic nature of MOFs has positioned them as an attractive alternative to the drawbacks that nanomedicine is currently facing, as it offers almost unlimited possibilities to design desired structures through metal-linker chemistry and postsynthetic modification in order to enhance their drug delivery properties, such as high drug loadings, controllable release of the drug, low cytotoxicity, appropriate colloidal stability and degradation rates, efficient cell internalisation, and anticancer cell selectivity [23][24][25].…”

Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Magnetic Nanoparticles and Nanowires—A Brief Introduction

“…Discussion on biological issues related to the biocompatibility, toxicity, etc. are outside the scope of this short review and can be found elsewhere [106][107][108][109][110][111]. While the present review offers a brief introduction to the topic, interested readers can find comprehensive reviews published recently [112][113][114][115][116][117].…”