Folate decorated dextran-coated magnetic nanoparticles for targeted delivery of ellipticine in cervical cancer cells

Abstract

The dextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) grafted with foliate (FA) were prepared and used as a nanocarrier for ellipticine (ET) delivery in cervical cancer. In this work we prepared superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles by pulsed laser ablation in liquid method. The formation of the SPION@DEX-ET-FA nanosystem was performed by a reverse microemulsion process. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) were used to characteristic the morphological properties of the NPs. The appropriate impact of a therapeutic dose of SPION@DEX-ET-FA on both cancer and healthy cell lines was estimated using a 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The flow cytometry assays was used to evaluate the induction of apoptosis in Hela cervical cancer cells. The findings of the SPION@DEX-ET-FA formulated were spherical particles with an average size, polydispersity and a zeta potential of 101 ± 15.02 nm, 0.075 and −33.8 mV, respectively. The nanosystem displayed dose-dependent cytotoxic effects on Hela cells. The results showed that SPION@DEX-ET-FA retained antitumor activity and no adverse effects on healthy cells were found.