Apoptosis selectively induced in BEL-7402 cells by folic acid-modified magnetic nanoparticles combined with 100 Hz magnetic field.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of folic acid-modified magnetic nanoparticles (FA-MNPs) combined with a 100 Hz extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) on the apoptosis of liver cancer BEL-7402 cells.


METHODS
MNPs (20 nm) were prepared by coprecipitation, and then folic acid was coated onto MNPs to prepare FA-MNPs. BEL-7402 cells and HL7702 cells were selected as liver cancer cells and normal liver cells, respectively. The ELF-EMF was generated from a solenoid coil. Cellular uptake of NPs was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was used to evaluate cell inhibition. Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. Statistical analyses were performed using two-way analysis of variance.


RESULTS
FA-MNPs combined with a 100 Hz magnetic field significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced higher apoptosis compared to either the ELF-EMF alone or FA-MNPs alone. FA-MNPs showed a better apoptosis effect and higher iron uptake in BEL-7402 cells compared to in HL7702 cells. On the basis of the ELF-EMF, higher doses of FA-MNPs brought higher apoptosis and higher iron uptake in either BEL-7402 cells or HL7702 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that FA-MNPs may induce apoptosis in a cellular iron uptake-dependent manner when combined with an ELF-EMF in BEL-7402 cells.
Second Affiliated Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Jian
J
Wen
Second Affiliated Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Shulian
S
Jiang
Second Affiliated Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Zhiqiang
Z
Chen
Second Affiliated Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Wei
W
Zhao
Second Affiliated Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Yongxiang
Y
Yi
Second Affiliated Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Ruili
R
Yang
Department of Hematology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Baoan
B
Chen
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D053769:Nanocapsules; D005492:Folic Acid
apoptosis; extremely low-frequency magnetic field; folic acid; liver cancer; magnetic nanoparticle