SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND IN VITRO CYTOTOXICITY OF MAGNETIC HOLLOW CUS NANOPARTICLES Michela Cupo, Department of Biology, Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI; Yajuan, Li, Liangran Guo, Wei Lu, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI RI-INBRE Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program Photothermal therapy of cancer has become a hot area of research in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences. The magnetic (Fe3O4) hollow copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticle (MHCuSNPs) drug delivery system combines the magnetic targeting function of the Fe3O4 and photothermal ablation effect of the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) decorated CuS nanoparticles. This drug delivery system provides the potential for cancer treatment under magnetic field and laser exposure. This study synthesized and characterized MHCuSNPs. Nanoparticles were prepared and coated with PEG. Next, water stable citric acid-coated Fe3O4 (CC-Fe3O4) was produced. MHCuSNPs were achieved by mixing the previously made products with a molecular ratio of 10:1 (Cu: Fe molecular ratio calculated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The MHCuSNPs were characterized with transmission electronic microscope (TEM) and UV spectrum. Cytotoxicity of MHCuSNPs with or without la ser exposure was tested on human breast cancer cells. The magnetic particles were attracted to the tumor cells by magnetic field exposure upon the cells in vitro. The hollow PEG-CuS nanoparticles (PEG-CuSNPs) needed partial surface area coverage of the magnetic solution in order for the nanoparticles to be controlled and attracted by exposed magnetic field. These findings suggested that the magnetic exposure and laser approach did in fact eliminate tumor cells following MHCuSNP treatment.
CB 6