Radiosensitizing effects of citrate-coated cobalt and nickel ferrite nanoparticles on breast cancer cells.

Evaluation of the biocompatibility and radiosensitizer potential of citrate-coated cobalt (cit-CF) and nickel (cit-NF) ferrite nanoparticles (NPs). Normal fibroblast and breast cancer cells were treated with different concentrations of citrate-coated ferrite NPs (cit-NPs) and irradiated with a cobalt-60 source at doses of 1 and 3 Gy. After 24 h, cell metabolism, morphology alterations and nanoparticle uptake were evaluated. Cit-CF and cit-NF NPs showed no toxicity to normal cells up to 250 and 100 μg.ml, respectively. Combination of cit-NP and ionizing radiation resulted in up to fivefold increase in the radiation therapeutic efficacy against breast cancer cells. Cit-CF and cit-NF NPs are suitable candidates for application as breast cancer cell radiosensitizers.