In Vitro Studies of Pegylated Magnetite Nanoparticles in a Cellular Model of Viral Oncogenesis: Initial Studies to Evaluate Their Potential as a Future Theranostic Tool

PRINCIPE GABRIEL; LEZCANO VIRGINIA; TIBURZI SILVINA; MIRAVALLES ALICIA; SOFIA RIVERO; GABRIELA MONTIEL SCHNEIDER; LASSALLE, VERÓNICA; GONZALE PARDO VERÓNICA

Pharmaceutics

MDPI

Año: 2023 vol. 15 p. 488 - 508

1999-4923

Abstract: Magnetic nanosystems represent promising alternatives to the traditional diagnostic andtreatment procedures available for different pathologies. In this work, a series of biological tests areproposed, aiming to validate a magnetic nanoplatform for Kaposi’s sarcoma treatment. The selectednanosystems were polyethylene glycol‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles (MAG.PEG), whichwere prepared by the hydrothermal method. Physicochemical characterization was performed toverify their suitable physicochemical properties to be administered in vivo. Exhaustive biologicalassays were conducted, aiming to validate this platform in a specific biomedical field related toviral oncogenesis diseases. As a first step, the MAG.PEG cytotoxicity was evaluated in a cellularmodel of Kaposi’s sarcoma. By phase contrast microscopy, it was found that cell morphology remainedunchanged regardless of the nanoparticles’ concentration (1–150 μg mL−1). The results,arising from the crystal violet technique, revealed that the proliferation was also unaffected. Inaddition, cell viability analysis by MTS and neutral red assays revealed a significant increase inmetabolic and lysosomal activity at high concentrations of MAG.PEG (100–150 μg mL−1). Moreover,an increase in ROS levels was observed at the highest concentration of MAG.PEG. Second, theiron quantification assays performed by Prussian blue staining showed that MAG.PEG cellularaccumulation is dose dependent. Furthermore, the presence of vesicles containing MAG.PEG insidethe cells was confirmed by TEM. Finally, the MAG.PEG steering was achieved using a staticmagnetic field generated by a moderate power magnet. In conclusion, MAG.PEG at a moderateconcentration would be a suitable drug carrier for Kaposi’s sarcoma treatment, avoiding adverseeffects on normal tissues. The data included in this contribution appear as the first stage in proposingthis platform as a suitable future theranostic to improve Kaposi’s sarcoma therapy.