In vitro evaluation of radiolabeled methotrexate loaded magnetic nanoparticle delivery system

Magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized via the chemical co-precipitation method using ammonium hydroxide as a precipitating agent. For this purpose, iron magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4) were synthesized, coated with alanine (Ala) and loaded with a folic acid antagonist MTX. Structural characterization of MNP-Ala and MNP-Ala-MTX were achieved by nanoparticle characterization techniques. MTX loaded magnetic nanoparticle was radiolabeled with technetium-99 m with 89% efficiency.The effect of radiolabeled nanoparticles on cells was determined on human cervical cancer (HeLa) and human breast (MCF7) cancer cell lines. It was found that drug loaded MNP nanoparticles showed higher uptake in MCF7 cells than in HeLa cells.