Iron oxide nanoparticles for targeted imaging of liver tumors with ultralow hepatotoxicity

Even though iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles are promising materials for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, their biocompatibility and targeting efficacy still need to be improved. Herein, we modified glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) groups on Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@cGlu-GA) for liver tumor-targeted imaging. To evaluate the biocompatibility of these nanoparticles, we studied their cytotoxicity, hemolysis, and hepatotoxicity. We measured the uptake of Fe₃O₄@cGlu-GA nanoparticles in normal and liver tumor cells, then we investigated the specificity of Fe₃O₄@cGlu-GA nanoparticles in mouse models bearing subcutaneous and orthotopic liver tumors. With good biocompatibility and targeting efficacy both in vitro and in vivo, the Fe₃O₄@cGlu-GA nanoparticles are promising MRI contrast agents with ultralow hepatotoxicity and show great improvement on existing Fe₃O₄-based nanoparticles.