Synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of poly(ethylene glycol)-coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles

Abstract

The aim of this study was to synthesize superparamagnetic nanoparticles and to<br><br>investigate their cytotoxic effects on osteosarcoma cells. Fe3O4 nanoparticles were<br><br>synthesized by the hydrothermal method and characterized by XRD, FT-IR, and zeta<br><br>potential techniques. The XRD patterns of Fe3O4 nanoparticles showed the formation<br><br>of single-phase superparamagnetic nanoparticle, and the spectra matched well with<br><br>the JCPDS values (89-0691) (Fig.1). In FT-IR spectrum, the bands at 579 and 3570<br><br>cm-1 emerged which are related to the Fe-O and OH groups. Based on zeta potential<br><br>value, fabricated nanoparticles possess negative charge surface. In order to increase<br><br>the stability of nanoparticles in biological media, they were coated with poly(ethylene<br><br>glycol) (PEG). Then, the cytotoxic effect of PEG@Fe3O4 nanoparticles on<br><br>osteosarcoma cells (Saos-2 cells) was evaluated. Cells were treated with different<br><br>concentrations of nanoparticles and the viability of cells evaluated using 3-(4,5-<br><br>dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay. The results showed that<br><br>PEG@Fe3O4 does not have any significant cytotoxic effect on the cell growth and<br><br>viability of cells up to100 μg/ml. Based on these results, PEG@Fe3O4 could be<br><br>considered as an appropriate nanoplatform in drug delivery field.