Abstract
In this study, caffeic acid (CFA)- and folic acid (FA)-conjugated superparamagnetic iron oxide bio-nanocomposite (SPION@PEG-FA-@CFA) was prepared and its cytotoxic and apoptotic effects against murine fibroblast (L929), glioblastoma (U87), adenocarcinoma, human breast cancer (MCF-7), epithelioid cervix carcinoma (HeLa), and lung carcinoma (A549) have been determined. A real-time cell analyzer system (RTCA) for cytotoxicity, annexin assay and TUNEL, caspase 3/7 expression level, and caspase 3/7 activities for apoptosis were used. The RTCA showed that the cytotoxic effects of the bio-nanocomposite were higher in U87, MCF-7, and HeLa cells (which are folic acid-positive cells (FAR (+))). TUNEL, annexin, and caspase assay results indicated that the bio-nanocomposite caused apoptotic and necrotic impacts on cells. Necrotic and apoptotic cell ratios in FAR-positive cells (L929 and A549) were lesser than those in U87, MCF-7, and HeLa cells (FAR (+)). Therefore, the obtained results showed that the bio-nanocomposite can be used as a nano-medicine for biomedical application (cancer treatments). Moreover, this work can also be useful for designing other functionalized materials which could act as biomaterial. This study will be also informative for the researchers to design novel materials for biomedical applications. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.