The cytotoxicity effect of a bis-MPA-based dendron, a bis-MPA-PEG dendrimer and a magnetite nanoparticle on stimulated and non-stimulated human blood lymphocytes

Dendrimers and dendrons offer a high surface area and nanoscale size and magnetic nanoparticles can be easily detected and manipulated due to their magnetic properties. The aim of the present study is to investigate the in vitro toxicity of Polyester-8-hydroxyl-1-carboxyl bis-MPA dendron, generation 3 (bis-MPA), Hyperbranched G4-PEG6k-OH (PEG) dendrimer and magnetite nanoparticle (Fe3O4), in human lymphocytes. Cell viability assays were performed on non-stimulated and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated lymphocytes, after exposure to various concentrations of the nanoparticles, using the Trypan blue assay, Flow Cytometry with 7-Amino Actinomycin D fluorescent dye (7-AAD), as well as the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl] 2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric method. The results collectively showed that after 24 h both the dendron and dendrimer at 50 μM concentration exhibited low cytotoxicity to non-stimulated and stimulated lymphocytes. Magnetite nanoparticle (Fe3O4) in concentrations 50-1000 μg/mL revealed negligible cytotoxicity to stimulated and non-stimulated lymphocytes. Moreover, the amount of intercellular Reactive Oxygen Species with or without treatment was assessed by means of the DCFH-DA to evaluate the presence of any oxidative stress. We propose herein simple cytotoxicity tests which indicate that these nanoparticles, after further studying, can serve as ideal drug carriers.