Lack of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of mPEG-silane coated iron(III) oxide nanoparticles doped with magnesium despite cellular uptake in cancerous and noncancerous lung cells

Abstract

Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of novel mPEG-silane coated iron(III) oxide nanoparticles doped with magnesium (Mg_0.1-γ-Fe₂O₃(mPEG-silane)_0.5) have been investigated on human adenocarcinomic alveolar basal epithelial (A549) and human normal bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells. In the studies several molecular and cellular targets addressing to cell membrane, cytoplasm organelles and nucleus components were served as toxicological endpoints. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were found to be stable in the cell culture media and were examined for different concentration and exposure times. No cytotoxicity of the tested nanoparticles was found although these nanoparticles slightly increased reactive oxygen species in both cell types studied. Mg_0.1-γ-Fe₂O₃(mPEG-silane)_0.5 nanoparticles did not produce any DNA strand breaks and oxidative DNA damages in A549 and BEAS-2B cells. Different concentration of Mg_0.1-γ-Fe₂O₃(mPEG-silane)_0.5 nanoparticles and different incubation time did not affect cell migration. The lung cancer cells' uptake of the nanoparticles was more effective than in normal lung cells. Altogether, the results evidence that mPEG-silane coated iron(III) oxide nanoparticles doped with magnesium do not elucidate any deleterious effects on human normal and cancerous lung cells despite cellular uptake of these nanoparticles. Therefore, it seems reasonable to conclude that these novel biocompatible nanoparticles are promising candidates for further development towards medical applications.