Magneto-electric nanoparticles to enable field-controlled high-specificity drug delivery to eradicate ovarian cancer cells

Sci Rep. 2013 Oct 16:3:2953. doi: 10.1038/srep02953.

Abstract

The nanotechnology capable of high-specificity targeted delivery of anti-neoplastic drugs would be a significant breakthrough in Cancer in general and Ovarian Cancer in particular. We addressed this challenge through a new physical concept that exploited (i) the difference in the membrane electric properties between the tumor and healthy cells and (ii) the capability of magneto-electric nanoparticles (MENs) to serve as nanosized converters of remote magnetic field energy into the MENs' intrinsic electric field energy. This capability allows to remotely control the membrane electric fields and consequently trigger high-specificity drug uptake through creation of localized nano-electroporation sites. In in-vitro studies on human ovarian carcinoma cell (SKOV-3) and healthy cell (HOMEC) lines, we applied a 30-Oe d.c. field to trigger high-specificity uptake of paclitaxel loaded on 30-nm CoFe₂O₄ @BaTiO₃ MENs. The drug penetrated through the membrane and completely eradicated the tumor within 24 hours without affecting the normal cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Biological Transport
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Carriers / toxicity
  • Drug Delivery Systems* / adverse effects
  • Electroporation
  • Female
  • Hot Temperature
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Fields*
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / toxicity
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles