Fabrication and evaluation of anti-cancer efficacy of lactoferrin-coated maghemite and magnetite nanoparticles

Studies on the anti-cancer effects of nanomaterials are a very important step in the clinical practice and treatment of cancerous tissues. Since IONPs have a high potential for cancer treatment, their anti-cancer properties can help us to resolve some of the therapeutic problems. For this purpose, in addition to synthesizing two types of IONPs including MN and MHN, Lf coating was used to increase their anti-cancer activity. MN and MHN were synthesized by hydrothermal and thermal methods, respectively, and their physicochemical properties were examined by SEM, zeta-potential, DLS, FTIR, TGA, and magnetism saturation. Molecular modelling was also done to model two steps of functionalization on the IONPs surface. In order to prove the biological activity of fabricated NPs in vitro, experimental assays of NP cytotoxicity were performed on breast cancerous cells (4T1) by MTT and ROS assays. It was found that the MN and MHN have a diameter around 24 and 33 nm, respectively. Also, the hydrodynamic radius of MN and MHN coated with Lf were 30 and 38 nm, and their zeta potential values at pH = 7.5 were −5.3 and −4.2 mV, respectively. Besides, the results of TGA, magnetism saturation and FTIR showed that Lf was successfully loaded onto NPs. Molecular modelling investigation depicted that dimethylamine moiety of the linker provides an intense reactive region for non-bonding linkages with Lf molecules. Cellular studies exhibited that Lf increased the toxicity of NPs and synthesized Lf-MNs provide the highest potency both on mortality and ROS level. This research may provide promising data for development of potential anticancer agents. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.