Investigation of Combination Effect Between 6 MV X-Ray Radiation and Polyglycerol Coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on U87-MG Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND

Radiosensitization using nanoparticles is proposed as a novel strategy for treatment of different cancers. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been reported to enhance effects of radiotherapy in several researches.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to investigate the radiosensitization properties of polyglycerol coated SPIONs (PG-SPIONs) on U87-MG cancer cells.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this experimental study, polyglycerol coated SPIONs were synthesized by thermal decomposition method and characterized by FTIR, TEM and VSM analysis. Cellular uptake of nanoparticles by cells was examined via AAS. Cytotoxicity and radiosensitization of nanoparticles in combination with radiation were evaluated by MTT and colony assay, respectively.

RESULTS

Mean size of nanoparticles was 17.9±2.85 nm. FTIR verified SPIONs coating by Polyglycerol and VSM showed that they have superparamagnetic behaviour. Viability significantly (P < 0.001) decreased at concentrations above 100µg/ml for SPIONs but not for PG-SPIONs (P > 0.05). Dose verification results by TLD for doses of 2 and 4 Gy were 2±0.19 and 4±0.12 Gy respectively. The combination index for all situations was less than 1 and the effect is antagonism.

CONCLUSION

However, PG-SPIONs combination with 6 MV X-ray reduced survival of U87-MG cells compared to radiation alone but the effect is antagonism.