Mg(1-x)CuxFe2O4 superparamagnetic nanoparticles as nano-radiosensitizer agents in radiotherapy of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

Magnesium-doped copper spinel ferrite superparamagnetic nanoparticles (Mg(1-x)CuxFe2O4 SPMNPs, 0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The cytotoxicity effects and cell viability of MCF-7 on human breast cancer cells pre and post exposure to the Mg1-xCuxFe2O4 SPMNPs at different concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μg ml-1 under radiotherapy were studied by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Here, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, UV-visible spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and vibrating-sample magnetometry were evaluated for the crystal structure, morphology, optical and magnetic property of the Mg(1-x)CuxFe2O4 SPMNPs. The results showed that the Mg(1-x)CuxFe2O4 SPMNPs all at x values had no significant cytotoxicity at concentrations of 0.1,1 and 10 μg ml-1, but were enhanced by increasing of Cu content. Furthermore, cell destruction of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells post exposure to Mg(1-x)CuxFe2O4 SPMNPs under x-ray irradiation was enhanced by increasing the Cu content and concentration. Superparamagnetic properties of the Mg(1-x)CuxFe2O4 SPMNPs cause their localization and elimination, by only an external magnetic field. In conclusion, the Mg(1-x)CuxFe2O4 SPMNPs with optimum values of x = 0.2 (10 μg ml-1) and x = 0.6 (1 μg ml-1) can be considered as a nano-radiosensitizer because of the synergistic treatment effect without cytotoxicity on the MCF-7 cells.