Synthesis, characterization and radiosensitizing effect of magnetic nanoparticles in melanoma cells

ATIA, MARIEL; DURAN, HEBE; TAVERNA PORRO, MARISA L.; DEL GROSSO, MARIELA; GRISSI, CECILIA; NEGRIN, LARA; IBAÑEZ, IRENE

Buenos Aires

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta de Sociedades de Biociencias, LXII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica; 2017

Malignant melanoma (MM) is the most deadly skin cancer, is highly metastatic and resistant to conventional therapies. Advances in nanomaterials contributed in recent years to develop new strategies for cancer treatment. In this context, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) exhibit great potential for diagnosis and therapy. MNPs are highly biocompatible, stable and can be directed under an external magnetic field. Moreover, incubation of cells with MNPs can increase intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Based on the high endogenous ROS levels of melanoma cells, we propose that combined treatment with MNPs and ionizing radiation (IR) could induce a cytotoxic oxidative stress by surpassing antioxidant capacity and sensitizing radioresistant melanoma cells. To test this hypothesis, the aim of this study was to synthesize, characterize and evaluate the radiosensitizing effect of MNPs in A375 human melanoma cells.Iron oxide MNPs were synthesized by the coprecipitation of Fe2+ and Fe3+ method and stabilized by methyl-poly(ethylene glycol). MNPs characterization by transmision electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, magnetometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy showed superparamagnetic behavior and low dispersion in shape and sizes (8-17 nm). No cytotoxicity was observed by MTT assay in A375 cells exposed up to 250 µg/ml for 24 h. DCFH assay revealed higher ROS levels in A375 cells after MNPs treatment (p