Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle-loaded hydrogels for photothermal therapy of cancer cells

• Published in: Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology Vol. 11; p. 1130523
• Main Authors: Ji, Yunfei, Wang, Chunpu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 16.03.2023
• Subjects: Bioengineering and Biotechnology; cancer therapy; hydrogels; iron oxide nanoparticles; light; photothermal therapy; cancer therapy; hydrogels; iron oxide nanoparticles; light; photothermal therapy
• ISSN: 2296-4185; 2296-4185
• DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1130523

Non-invasive photothermal therapy (PTT) is a competitive treatment for solid tumors, while the efficacy is largely dependent on the effective retention of photothermal converters in tumor tissues. Herein, the development of iron oxide (Fe O ) nanoparticle-loaded alginate (ALG) hydrogel platform for PTT of colorectal cancer cells is reported. Fe O nanoparticles synthesized coprecipitation method after reaction of 30 min have a small size (61.3 nm) and more suitable surface potential, and can mediate PTT under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. The premix of Fe O nanoparticles and ALG hydrogel precursors can be gelatinized by Ca -mediated cross-linking to form this therapeutic hydrogel platform. The formed Fe O nanoparticles can be effectively taken up by CT26 cancer cells and induce the death of CT26 cells under NIR laser irradiation because of their excellent photothermal property. In addition, Fe O nanoparticle-loaded ALG hydrogels show negligible cytotoxicity at the studied concentration range, but can significantly kill cancer cells after PTT effect. This ALG-based hydrogel platform provides a valuable reference for subsequent in vivo studies and other related studies on Fe O nanoparticle-loaded hydrogels.