Abstract
Magnetic nanoparticles are well known for anticancer activity by deregulating cellular functions. In the present study, cellular effects of low strength static magnetic field (SMF) were explored. How nanoparticles affect the cellular response in presence and absence of static magnetic field was also studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and human lymphoma monocytic cell line U937 were chosen as representative normal and cancer cells models. The two effects we would like to report in this paper are, DNA damage induced by SMF of the order of 70 mT, and alteration in membrane potential. The other notable aspect was the changes were diametrically opposite in normal and cancer cell types. DNA damage was observed only in cancer cells whereas membrane depolarization was observed in normal cells. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONP) and gold nanoparticles (AuNP) were also used for cellular response studies in presence and absence of SMF. The effects of the magnetic nanoparticle IONP and also of AuNP were sensitive to presence of SMF. Unlike cancer cells, normal cells showed a transient membrane depolarization sensitive to static magnetic field. This depolarization effect exclusive for normal cells was suggested to have correlations with their higher repair capacity and lesser propensity for DNA damage. The work shows cancer cells and normal cells respond to nanoparticle and static magnetic field in different ways. The static magnetic induced DNA damage observed exclusively in cancer cells may have therapeutic implications. From the conclusions of the present investigation we may infer that static magnetic field enhances the therapeutic potentials of nanoparticles. Such low strength magnetic field seems to be a promising external manoeuvring agent in designing theranostics.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12645-014-0002-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Cancer cells and normal cells differ in their cell-cell communication [1], characteristic cell death [2] repair mechanisms or other cellular activities [3]
Use of magnetic nanoparticle [6] as theranostic agent has recently become popular as their presence or absence can be realized by magnetic imaging and characterised by relaxometry or superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements [7]
As model systems normal and cancer cells we considered peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) [15], and a suspended histiocytic lymphoma cell line, U937 [16]
Summary
Cancer cells and normal cells differ in their cell-cell communication [1], characteristic cell death [2] repair mechanisms or other cellular activities [3]. Use of magnetic nanoparticle [6] as theranostic agent has recently become popular as their presence or absence can be realized by magnetic imaging and characterised by relaxometry or superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements [7]. They can be used as hyper-thermic agent in presence of fluctuating external magnetic field [8]. When amenable to external manoeuvring the therapeutic potential of the nano agent can be further enhanced Basis for such external manipulation is hyperthermia, in which local heating causes cell death. While static magnetic fields (SMF) are unlikely to cause heating, it may be important to study the cytotoxic effects of static magnetic field on DNA damage and other intracellular processes
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