Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 14, 2025
Cell Labeling and Targeting with Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
Published on: October 19, 2015
Hepatic and renal cellular cytotoxic effects of heparin-coated superparamagnetic Iron oxide nanoparticles
Yong Hwa Hwang1, Youn-Jung Kim2,3, Dong Yun Lee4,5
1Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, and BK21 PLUS Future Biopharmaceutical Human Resources Training and Research Team, Institute of Nano Science & Technology (INST), Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
Background:
Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles have been widely used in several biomedical engineering in vivo. Although various surface modifications have been made to these non-biodegradable nanoparticles to make them more biocompatible, their toxic potential still remains a major concern.
Method:
In this study, we newly developed unfractionated heparin (UFH)-coated and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH)-coated SPIO nanoparticles through surface modification engineering, which was compared with commercially available dextran-coated SPIO nanoparticles. Their toxicity such as cytotoxicity, single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) comet assay, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and cellular apoptosis was evaluated to hepatic HepG2 and renal HK-2 cells.
Results:
When UFH-, LMWH- or dextran-coated SPIO nanoparticles were applied, they did not affect the viability of HepG2 cell. However, HK-2 cells were more sensitive to dextran-coated SPIO nanoparticles than others. In genotoxicity assay using SCGE comet, DNA tail moment values in the groups treated with dextran- and LMWH-coated SPIO nanoparticles significantly increased. However, UFH-coated SPIO nanoparticles was only significantly lowing DNA tail moment value. In addition, UFH-coated SPIO nanoparticles had lower cytotoxicity in HepG2 and HK-2 cells compared to dextran-coated SPIO nanoparticles, especially in terms of apoptosis and intracellular ROS production.
Conclusions:
Collectively, it is possible that UFH- coated SPIO nanoparticles can be used as alternative negative contrast agents.
