Document Type : Original Research
Authors
- Baharak Divband 1, 2, 3
- Amal Y. Al-Yasiri 4
- Najwan Mohammed Saeed 4
- Davood Khezerloo 1, 5
- Nahideh Gharehaghaji 1, 5
1 Medical Radiation Sciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
2 Dental and Periodontal Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
3 Inorganic Chemistry Department, Chemistry Faculty, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
4 Department of Basic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
5 Department of Radiology, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
Background: Multifunctional nanosystems, containing medical imaging components and cancer therapeutic drugs, can provide early cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), anticancer drug delivery, and fluorescence properties of curcumin-loaded PEGylated magnetite@graphene quantum dots nanocomposite.
Material and Methods: In this experimental study, PEGylated magnetite@graphene quantum dots (Fe3O4@GQDs-PEG) nanocomposite was synthesized and loaded with curcumin (CUR-Fe3O4@GQDs-PEG). Then, the size, shape, magnetic property, MRI r2 relaxivity, drug loading and in vitro release, and fluorescence property of the nanocomposite were investigated. Evaluation of the cell toxicity against MCF-7 cells was performed for both unloaded and curcumin-loaded nanocomposites.
Results: The superparamagnetic nanocomposite showed high r2 relaxivity, drug release, and fluorescence property. The curcumin-loaded nanocomposite was significantly toxic to the breast cancer cell line at high concentrations.
Conclusion: CUR-Fe3O4@GQDs-PEG nanocomposite can be considered an anticancer drug carrier and an appropriate potential candidate for dual modal MRI and fluorescence imaging.
Keywords
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