Issue 12, 2020

Spindle-like MRI-active europium-doped iron oxide nanoparticles with shape-induced cytotoxicity from simple and facile ferrihydrite crystallization procedure

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) that can provide additional functionality to the nanoagents derived from them, e.g., cytotoxicity or imaging abilities, are in high demand in modern nanotechnology. Here, we report new spindle-like iron oxide nanoparticles doped with Eu3+ that feature magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrasting properties together with shape-related cytotoxicity (unusual for such low 2.4% Eu content). The NPs were prepared by a novel procedure for doping of iron oxide nanoparticles based on the crystallization of amorphous ferrihydrite in the presence of hydrated europium(III) oxide and were thoroughly characterized. Cytotoxicity of low Eu-doped spindle-like hematite nanoparticles was confirmed by MTT assay and further studied in detail by imaging flow cytometry, optical and electron microscopies. Additionally, enhancement of MRI contrast properties of NPs upon doping with europium was demonstrated. According to the MRI using mice as an animal model and direct inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) 153Eu biodistribution measurements, these particles accumulate in the liver and spleen. Therefore, NPs present a novel example of a multimodal component combining magnetic imaging and therapeutic (cytotoxic) abilities for development of theranostic nanoagents.

Graphical abstract: Spindle-like MRI-active europium-doped iron oxide nanoparticles with shape-induced cytotoxicity from simple and facile ferrihydrite crystallization procedure

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 Dec 2019
Accepted
04 Feb 2020
First published
18 Feb 2020
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2020,10, 7301-7312

Spindle-like MRI-active europium-doped iron oxide nanoparticles with shape-induced cytotoxicity from simple and facile ferrihydrite crystallization procedure

A. V. Lunin, I. L. Sokolov, I. V. Zelepukin, I. V. Zubarev, M. N. Yakovtseva, E. N. Mochalova, J. M. Rozenberg, M. P. Nikitin and E. L. Kolychev, RSC Adv., 2020, 10, 7301 DOI: 10.1039/C9RA10683A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements