Delivery of apigenin-loaded magnetic FeO/FeO@mSiO nanocomposites to A549 cells and their antitumor mechanism.

This study introduces a mesoporous magnetic nano-system for the delivery of apigenin (API). A targeted therapeutic drug delivery system was prepared based on FeO/FeO@mSiO-HA nanocomposites. Magnetic FeO/FeO heterogeneous nanoparticles were first prepared via the rapid-combustion process. The effects of solvent type, solvent volume, calcination temperature, and calcination time on the crystal size and magnetism of the FeO/FeO heterogeneous nanoparticles were investigated. The mesoporous silica shell was deposited on the FeO/FeO heterogeneous nanoparticles using an improved Stöber method. HA was exploited as the targeting ligand. The specific surface area of the FeO/FeO@mSiO nanocomposites was 369.6 m/g, which is 19 times higher than that of the magnetic FeO/FeO heterogeneous nanoparticle cores. Drug release properties from the FeO/FeO@mSiO-HA nanocomposites were studied, and the result showed that API-loaded nano-system had sustained release effect. Prussian blue staining and electrochemical performance variation showed that an external magnetic field facilitated cell uptake of FeO/FeO@mSiO-HA nanocomposites. MTT assays showed that the cell inhibition effect of API-FeO/FeO@mSiO-HA was stronger than that of free API at the same drug dose under a magnetic field and FeO/FeO@mSiO-HA nanocomposites showed good biocompatibility. Fluorescence imaging, flow cytometry, western blot, reactive oxygen species (ROS), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) kits verified that the enhanced therapeutic action was due to the promotion of apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, and ferroptosis. The magnetic nano-system (FeO/FeO@mSiO-HA) showed good magnetic targeting and active hyaluronic acid targeting, and has the potential to provide a targeted delivery platform for many antitumor drugs.