Characteristics of Magnetic Nanoformulations and their Properties to treat Cancer via Magneto-mechanical Actuation

Abstract

Renowned as the most lethal disease of world history, cancer continues to take the lives of millions of people across the globe. In the U.S. alone, it is estimated that about 1,000 patients die every day from cancer. Scientists have primarily used treatments such as chemotherapy and ionizing radiation to treat cancer. Although these treatments hold the disease at bay, they have side effects that are detrimental to patient quality of life. Therefore, there is a strong need for a new, less detrimental cancer treatment. We propose a novel treatment in which nitrodopamine polyethylene glycol coated cubic iron oxide nanoparticles (ND-PEG CIONPs) are absorbed by cells and actuated by alternating magnetic fields (AMF), which can translate magnetic forces into mechanical agitation via magneto mechanical actuation (MMA). In this treatment, ND-PEG CIONPs will first be tested for stability and diffusion in water and cell culture media using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Once stable, they will be incubated with human adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells followed by cellular uptake studies. The particle-containing cells will be treated with AMF at initial conditions of 100 mT pulse, 65 Hz frequency, for 30min (5 min on/off intervals). Cell viability studies will then be performed after magnetic treatment via CCK-8 and PrestoBlue reagent assays to determine the optimal concentration of ND-PEG CIONP and incubation time to maximize cell killing rates. Magnetic fields parameters will be adjusted to optimize this response. MMA is anticipated to cause shear stress on the cytoskeleton of MCF-7 cells and induce apoptotic cell death. This approach represents a step further to advance the field of cancer therapeutics utilizing modern-day technology and serves as a less harmful alternative to current cancer treatments.