The Potential of Helianthin Loaded Into Magnetic Nanoparticles to Induce Cytotoxicity in Glioblastoma Cells

The central nervous system tumors are the most common solid tumors in adults.. Unlike other types of cancers, brain cancer is much difficult to treat because of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that prevents drug substances from crossing it and accessing the brain. Different types of methods to overcome BBB have been used in vivo and in vitro, of which the use of nanoparticle-mediated delivery of therapeutic drugs is particularly promising. In the present study, we used iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) as carrier system for helianthin (He/NPs) to treat cancer cells derived from glioblastoma. An early passage cell cultures (GB1B), established in our laboratory from tissue obtained from a patient diagnosed with glioblastoma, was used. The cells were treated with different concentrations of NPs or HeNPs and then cell proliferation was measured at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Our results showed that the treatment with NPs was well tolerated by glioblastoma cells, the viability of the cells increased very slightly after the treatment. Furthermore, we demonstrated that helianthin loaded Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles induced cytotoxicity in human glioblastoma cells. The treatment with HeNPs induced dose and time dependent.