Evaluation of laser-based photodynamic therapy effects in the presence of gold coated magnetic-plasmonic iron oxide nanoparticles in brain cancer cell line

Abstract

Glioma cancer is a type of neoplasm of the supporting tissue of the central nervous system. Recently, gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles have attracted much attention in the treatment of glioma, especially as sensitizers to chemotherapy agents and radiation therapy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of photodynamic therapy with laser in the presence of magnetic-plasmonic iron oxide nanoparticles with gold coating in glioma cell line. Methods: Rat glioblastoma C6 cancer cell line was cultured and the cytotoxicity of gold-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles was determined by the MTT assay. To measure the induced heat, the flask containing the cell was placed under the laser source and then thermometry was performed in the presence and absence of nanoparticles to obtain the time to reach the desired temperature. The production of reactive oxygen species was measured using the DCFH-DA kit and the ability of cell proliferation was measured using the colony formation assay. Then, the results were analyzed using SPSS software, One-way ANOVA, and Post-Hoc test. Results: Laser alone for 12 minutes and laser in the presence of nanoparticles for 4 minutes caused photothermal therapy of the cells. On the other hand, cells that were simultaneously treated with nanoparticles and subjected to photothermal therapy had a significantly higher production of reactive oxygen species compared to the groups of nanoparticles or photothermal therapy alone (P<0.05). On the other hand, the number of colonies formed in cells treated with nanoparticles simultaneously and subjected to photothermal therapy was significantly lower than in the groups of nanoparticles or photothermal therapy alone (P<0.05).