Physico-chemical characteristics, biocompatibility, and MRI applicability of novel monodisperse PEG-modified magnetic Fe3O4&SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles

• Published in: RSC advances Vol. 7; no. 15; pp. 8786 - 8797
• Main Authors: Uliana Kostiv, Patsula, Vitalii, Šlouf, Miroslav, Pongrac, Igor M, Škokić, Siniša, Radmilović, Marina Dobrivojević, Pavičić, Ivan, Vrček, Ivana Vinković, Gajović, Srećko, Horák, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 01-01-2017
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; Core-shell particles; Esters; Iron oxides; Magnetic resonance imaging; Microemulsions; Nanoparticles; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Oleic acid; Organic chemistry; Polyethylene glycol; Silicon dioxide; Stem cells; Thermal decomposition; Uptakes; Visualization
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c7ra00224f

Monodisperse, superparamagnetic oleic acid-stabilized Fe3O4 nanoparticles of different sizes were prepared by thermal decomposition of Fe(iii) oleate. The particles were subsequently coated by silica shells of different thicknesses (yielding Fe3O4&SiO2) using a water-in-oil (w/o) reverse microemulsion technique and/or were decorated with amino groups by reaction with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane. The resulting Fe3O4&SiO2-NH2 nanoparticles were then modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) via reaction with its succinimidyl ester yielding Fe3O4&SiO2-PEG particles. The in vitro biocompatibility and biosafety of the Fe3O4&SiO2 and Fe3O4&SiO2-PEG particles were investigated in a murine neural stem cell model in terms of oxidative stress response and cell viability, proliferation, and uptake. Finally, the potential of both nanoparticle types for application in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) visualization was evaluated.