Surface Functionalization of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Potential Cell Targeting, Imaging, And Cancer Therapy Applications

Abstract

The bio-interfaces of SPIONs are crucial for their biomedical applications. The overall aim of this thesis is to modify SPIONs with different polymer shells for efficient cell targeting and MRI applications. In the first project, SPIONs were coated with either PLMA or PEG-conjugated PLMA to modulate uptake by macrophages. PLMA-SPIONs are readily taken up by macrophages but the extent of uptake can be reduced by increasing the PEG content of the PLMA-PEG coating. In the second project, SPIONs were coated with either PGMA or P(GMA-co-PEGMA) combined with a targeting ligand, folic acid, to attain high selectivity in targeting cancers with minimal uptake by macrophages. These nanoparticles are non-cytotoxic and exhibit higher MRI contrast effects than commercial agents. Finally, SPIONs-loaded, cisplatin-conjugated polymeric nanoparticles were synthesized for potential application against bladder cancer. These nanoparticles show a sustained release of cisplatin over 4 days and effectively induce cytotoxicity against the bladder cancer cells.