The Effect of Superparamagnetic Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Combined with Quercetin on Breast Cancer Cell Line (MCF-7)

Fateme Sadeghi Nodoushan; Fatemeh Hakimian; Sana Taghiyar; Bibi Fatemeh Haghiralsadat

doi:10.18502/jnfs.v8i4.14006

Fateme Sadeghi Nodoushan Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Fatemeh Hakimian Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Sana Taghiyar Department of Clinical Biochemistry, International Campus, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Science, Yazd, Iran
Bibi Fatemeh Haghiralsadat Department of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, School of Paramedicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jnfs.v8i4.14006

Keywords: Nanoparticles; Quercetin; Fe3O4; Breast cancer

Abstract

Background: Magnetic nanoparticles attract increasing interest due to their use in cancer therapy and as drug carriers for several other diseases. The present study investigates the physiochemical properties of quercetin-conjugated superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles and their effects on breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Methods: A simple precipitation method was used to prepare the Poly Ethylene Imine (PEI)-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles; they were then conjugated with flavonoid-compound quercetin on the surface via carboxylic/amine group using nanoprecipitation method. Then, the physical and chemical parameters were calculated using Zeta-sizer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and extract release patterns at 37 and 42 ⁰C. Finally, the toxicity level of this quercetin- conjugated nanosystem on the MCF-7 cells was investigated by MTT assay. Results: The results showed that the prepared nanosystem attained about 74% of quercetin inclusion, 91.2 nm size, 65.1 mV zeta potential, spherical morphology and a controlled release. Compared to Fe3O4 nanoparticles and pure quercetin, MTT and microscopy analysis revealed that quercetin-conjugated Fe3O4 nanoparticles induced considerable cytotoxicity, and morphology changes against MCF7 cells. Conclusion: Quercetin-conjugated Fe3O4 nanoparticles have appropriate physiochemical properties; they can be a suitable carrier for drug delivery and a promising therapy for candidates.