Mesoporous iron oxide nanoparticle synthesis: Study of its biological effects on lymphocytes and chronic myelogenous leukemia cells K562

Mesoporous iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONPs) have various applications in the medical and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, investigating their effects on cancer cells could be of great essence. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to synthesize MIONPs and to compare their effect between lymphocytes and chronic myeloid leukemia cells (K562). MIONPs were made by the hydrothermal method and examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of different concentrations of MIONPs on lymphocytes and chronic myeloid leukemia cells (K562) were then investigated using MTT and flow cytometry (FCM) approaches. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis verified the synthesis of MIONPs. The results showed that the nanoparticles were spherical in shape with an average diameter of about 100 nanometres. The results of the MTT test showed that the MIONPs reduced the life of the cells in a dose-dependent manner, although this toxicity was higher for the chronic myeloid leukemia cells (K562) compared to the lymphocytes. After the determination of IC50 concentration for MIONPs, flow cytometry was performed to investigate the programmed cell death (apoptosis) on chronic myeloid leukemia and lymphocytes cells.The rate of programmed death and necrosis in chronic myeloid leukemia cells treated with MIONPs was much higher than in lymphocytes. As a result, it can be concluded that porous iron oxide nanoparticles can be used as a possible anti-cancer agents.