Cytotoxicity Studies of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Macrophage and Liver Cells

Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) prepared by simplified coprecipitation were attractive as MRI contrast agents and drug carriers which could internally be manipulated under the influence of an external magnetic field and also cancer treatment due to additional hyperthermia effects. Problem statement: Macrophage and liver cells are potentially exposed to internal SPIONs, thus used for this cytotoxic tests for safety information of SPIONs. Approach: The SPIONs were physicochemically characterized by several instruments to ensure the production process. Cell viabilities, lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide produced after exposure to the SPIONs were conducted in normal macrophage and liver cells. Results: The approximately 15nm SPIONs produced had their structure confirmed by FTIR and X-ray diffraction and their magnetic properties probed by NMR. Macrophage and liver cells reacted differently to the SPIONs in dose- and time-dependent manners. Lipid peroxidation increased in macrophage cells, but not liver cells, after 24 h exposure to 100 µg mL^-1 of SPIONs, but decreased after 72 h. Pro-inflammatory effect on macrophage cells induced by the SPIONs and measured as nitric oxide was not observed. Concentration of SPIONs up to 25 µg mL^-1 did not alter cell function and morphology. Conclusion: SPIONs produced by our simplified co-precipitation are dose-dependent cytotoxic to macrophage and liver cells.