Ce³⁺ sensitized GdPO₄:Tb³⁺ with iron oxide nanoparticles: a potential biphasic system for cancer theranostics

Dalton Trans. 2014 Aug 14;43(30):11728-38. doi: 10.1039/c4dt00792a. Epub 2014 Jun 23.

Abstract

We report a biphasic system (BPS) consisting of PEGylated Tb(3+)-doped GdPO4 nanorice sensitized with Ce(3+) (PEG-NRs) and glutamic acid coated iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) with multifunctional capabilities. The mesoporous PEG-NRs exhibit green light luminescence properties and a high degree of aqueous stability. Their drug loading and release capacities were investigated for anti-cancer chemo doxorubicin (DOX). Their mesoporous nature and availability of plenty of negatively charged functional groups (-COO(-)) on the surface of PEG-NRs facilitate approximately 94 wt% DOX loading. In vitro studies carried out for PEG-NRs and their biphasic integrated system with iron oxide using HeLa and MCF-7 cell lines demonstrated their cell killing efficacy. The green luminescence observed under confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) confirms the cellular uptake of PEG-NRs by HeLa cell lines and their accumulation in the cytoplasm. Approximately 50-55% of HeLa and MCF-7 cell death was observed after 24 h of incubation with DOX loaded BPS (2 mg IONPs and 0.25 mg PEG-NRs + DOX), which further increased to about 90% when exposed to an AC magnetic field (ACMF) for 25 min. Our findings demonstrate that the therapeutic efficacy of BPS loaded with DOX could be a powerful multimodal system for imaging and synergistic chemo-thermal cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cerium / chemistry*
  • Drug Carriers
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry*
  • Gadolinium / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Luminescence
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Organometallic Compounds / pharmacology
  • Phosphates / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Ferric Compounds
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Phosphates
  • ferric oxide
  • Cerium
  • Gadolinium