IN VITRO EVALUATION OF NOVEL FUNCTIONALIZED NANOPARTICLES FOR TERAHERTZ IMAGING

Abstract

IN VITRO EVALUATION OF NOVEL FUNCTIONALIZED NANOPARTICLES FOR TERAHERTZ IMAGING (Abstract): Background: Early clinical diagnosis of gastric cancer is crucial for the treatment of patients, with increased healing rates being achieved by digestive endoscopy or surgery in patients with early gastric cancer. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are a major class of nanoscale materials currently under extensive development for improved diagnosis of a wide range of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurological disease. The nanoscale dimensions of MNPs give rise to unique magnetic properties and the ability to function on a cellular and molecular level, these characteristics making MNPs such promising contrast agents in different imaging applications. Aim: The research was focused on the development of some new nanoparticles suitable for use as contrast agents for terahertz imaging and assessment of the impact on gastric cell line AGS viability. Material and methods: Magnetite/Fe₃O₄ and Gd₂O₃ were functionalized by citric acid and carboxymethylcellulose and were tested on the standardized human gastric cell line AGS for the impact on cell viability by MTT assay. Results: Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles have induced a smaller amount of cytotoxicity at the first two dilutions, followed by an increase of the cytotoxic effect with the maxim effect at the dilution of 1:1. Also, the Gd₂O₃ stabilized in carboxymethylcellulose has presented a moderate cytotoxic impact in the range of 1:75 to 1:5 dilutions, followed by registration of a significant toxic effect at 1:1 dilution. Conclusions: The results obtained indicate that there is a high degree of tolerance to the tested nanoparticles, pointing out these nanoparticles suitable as contrast agents.