Glioblastoma Targeted Gene Therapy Based on pEGFP/p53-Loaded Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) separates the neural tissue from circulating blood because of its high selectivity. This study focused on the in vitro application of magnetic nanoparticles to deliver Tp53 as a gene of interest to glioblastoma (U87) cells across a simulated BBB model that comprised KB cells.

After magnetic and non-magnetic nanoparticles were internalized by KB cells, their location in these cells was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Transfection efficiency of DNA to U87 cells was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy, real time PCR, flowcytometry, and Western immuno-blotting. When a magnetic field was applied, a large number of magnetic nanoparticles accumulated in KB cells, appearing as black dots scattered in the cytoplasm of cells. Fluorescence microscope examination showed that transfection of the DNA to U87 target cells was highest in cells treated with magnetic nanoparticles and exposed to a magnetic field. Also it was reflected in significantly increased mRNA level while the p53 protein level was decreased.

It could be concluded that a significant increase in total apoptosis was induced in cells by magnetic nanoparticles, coupled with exposure to a magnetic force (p ≤0.01) as compared with cells that were not exposed to magnetism.