Neutron-activated, plasmonically excitable Fe-Pt-Yb ₂O ₃ nanoparticles delivering anti-cancer radiation against human glioblastoma cells

Summary

Magnetic nanoparticles can be functionalized in many ways for biomedical applications. Here, we combine four advantageous features in a novel Fe-Pt-Yb ₂O ₃ core-shell nanoparticle. (a) The nanoparticles have a size of 10 nm allowing them to diffuse through neuronal tissue. (b) The particles are superparamagnetic after synthesis and ferromagnetic after annealing, enabling directional control by magnetic fields, enhance NMRI contrast, and hyperthermia treatment. (c) After neutron-activation of the shell, they carry low-energetic, short half-life β-radiation from ¹⁷⁵Yb, ¹⁷⁷Yb, and ¹⁷⁷Lu. (d) Additionally, the particles can be optically visualized by plasmonic excitation and luminescence. To demonstrate the potential of the particles for cancer treatment, we exposed cultured human glioblastoma cells (LN-18) to non-activated and activated particles to confirm that the particles are internalized, and that the β-radiation of the radioisotopes incorporated in the neutron-activated shell of the nanoparticles kills more than 98% of the LN-18 cancer cells, promising for future anti-cancer applications.

Graphical abstract

Highlights

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  Nanoparticles of a size of 10 nm allow diffusion or drift through neuronal tissue

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  Magnetic properties of nanoparticles enable directional control by magnetic fields

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  Optical visualization of nanoparticles by plasmonic excitation and luminescence

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  Anti-cancer β-radiation from nanoparticles kills 98% of the LN-18 cancer cells

Abstract

Applied chemistry; Nanotechnology; Materials in biotechnology