Preparation, Characterization of 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose Functionalized Dimercaptosuccinic Acid-Coated Maghemite Nanoparticles for Targeting Tumor Cells

To report a modified preparation and to systematically study the structure, magnetic and other properties of gamma-Fe2O3-DMSA-DG NPs (2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) conjugated meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid coated gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles) and test its ability to improve Hela tumor cells targeting in vitro compared to the gamma-Fe2O3-DMSA NPs. The conjugation of 2-DG on the surface of gamma-Fe2O3-DMSA NPs was performed by esterification reaction and characterized. Acute toxicity was evaluated using MTT assay. Cellular uptake was investigated by Prussian blue staining and UV colorimetric assay. DG was successfully functionalized onto the surface of gamma-Fe2O3-DMSA NPs; binding efficiency was similar to 60%. The mean diameter of single core of gamma-Fe2O3-DMSA-DG NPs was 10 nm. Particle size and polydispersity index of its aggregates were 156.2 nm and 0.162, respectively. 2-DG-conjugated nanoparticles caused little cytotoxic effects on Hela cells at the concentration range of 0-600 mu g/mL. When 2-DG-conjuated and non-conjugated nanoparticles were incubated with Hela cells for 4, 8 and 12 h, the 2-DG-conjugated nanoparticle showed significant amount of uptake in cells compared to their non-targeted counterparts. gamma-Fe2O3-DMSA-DG NPs could be developed as a tumor-targeted probe for cervical cancer imaging and therapy.