Toxicity comparison of two nanocarriers, magnetic mesoporous silica and polyoxometalate, using in vitro methods in PC-۳ cells

Nanocarriers have garnered significant global attention in pharmaceutical research due to their potential to revolutionize drug transportation and formulation. These systems enhance therapeutic efficacy, minimize off-target effects, and enable controlled release, making the identification of safer, more efficient nano-delivery platforms critical for advancing in vitro and clinical applications. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of two novel drug delivery systems—superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with silica (SPION@silica) and iron-containing polyoxometalate (FeMo۶)—against prostate cancer (PC-۳) and normal Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines. SPION@silica and FeMo۶ were synthesized via co-precipitation and solvothermal methods, respectively, yielding uniform particle sizes of ۲۰ nm and ۵۰ nm, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Structural and compositional integrity were validated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cytotoxicity assessments via MTT assay revealed distinct profiles for the two systems. FeMo۶ demonstrated potent tumor-killing activity, reducing PC-۳ cell viability to ۳۵% at ۴۸ hours post-treatment, compared to ۶۵% viability with SPION@silica. However, FeMo۶ also exhibited moderate cytotoxicity toward CHO cells (۵۵% viability), suggesting non-selective mechanisms such as reactive oxygen species generation or mitochondrial disruption. In contrast, SPION@silica showed minimal toxicity to healthy cells (۸۵% CHO viability), attributed to the biocompatible silica shell shielding the magnetic core. These findings highlight a critical trade-off: while FeMo۶’s polyoxometalate structure enables robust anticancer activity, its broader cytotoxicity necessitates caution in therapeutic applications. SPION@silica, with its favorable safety profile, emerges as a promising candidate for targeted drug delivery, though its lower tumor suppression efficacy warrants further optimization.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cytotoxicity ، MRI ، MTT assay ، Prostate Cancer ، SPION@silica