title: Magnetically enhanced cytotoxicity of paramagnetic selenium-ferroferric oxide nanocomposites on human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells.
abstract: We use quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), 3-(4,5-dimethylthizaol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and fluorescence/optical microscopic inspections to investigate the cytotoxicity of paramagnetic selenium-ferroferric oxide (Se-Fe(3)O(4)) nanocomposites on human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells. The nearly spherical Se-Fe(3)O(4) nanocomposites of 40-50nm diameter, as characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), are synthesized through reduction of selenious acid by ascorbic acid in the presence of nanosized Fe(3)O(4). The QCM technique is employed for the first time to monitor the toxicity of Se-Fe(3)O(4) on tumor cells in a real-time manner. We find that the Se-Fe(3)O(4) nanocomposites are able to induce cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent way, and an external magnetic field increases the cytotoxicity. The results obtained from MTT assay as well as fluorescence and inverted optical microscopy experiments are consistent with that from QCM experiments, indicating that the QCM technique as a simple, inexpensive and dynamic tool is promising in studying the magnetic effects of many paramagnetic drugs on the cells for better understanding of the relevant magneto-chemotherapy processes.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology & Traditional Chinese Medicine Research (Ministry of Education of China), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Yaping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xue'en
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Qingji
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Shouzhuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide; D012643:Selenium