Breast Cancer Diagnosed by MRI Using Mesoporous TiO₂-Coated (Fe₃O₄) Nanoparticles

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of dimer captosuccinic acid-coated Fe₃O₄ (super paramagnetic) nanoparticles (NP) on 2-deoxy-d-glucose in targeted cancer cells with high rates of glucose metabolism. Methods: We prepared Fe₃O₄@DMSA NP and 2-DG-conjugated Fe₃O₄@DMSA NP, γ-FE, O, and @DMSA-DG NP. Glucose consumption in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells was determined using γ-Fe2O3@DMSA NP or Fe₃O₄@DMSA-DG NP, and absorption was tested using Prussian blue staining, ultraviolet colorimetry, and magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Glucose consumption was the highest in MDA-MB-231, and the lowest in human mammary epithelial cells (HMEPiC). The significant uptake of Fe2O3@DMSA-DG NP by MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells within two hours was inhibited by glucose. The uptake of Fe₃O₄@DMSA-DG NP was significantly higher in MDA-MB-231 than in MCF-7 cells, whereas Fe₃O₄@DMSA NP was not obviously uptaken by either cell line. Absorption was also not evident in HMEPiC incubated with Fe₃O₄@DMSA-DG NP and Fe₃O₄@DMSA NP. Conclusions: The tumor targeting efficacy of 2-DG coated Fe₃O₄@DMSA NP was improved over Fe₃O₄,@DMSA NP in cancer cells with high rates of glucose metabolism.