Doxorubicin delivery by magnetic nanotheranostics enhances the cell death in chemoresistant colorectal cancer-derived cells

Abstract

Abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer death with ahigh probability of treatment failure. Doxorubicin (DOXO) is an efficientantitumor drug; however, most CRC cells show resistance to its effects.Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are potential cancer management tools thatcan serve as diagnostic agents and also can optimize and personalizetreatments. This work aims to evaluate the aptitude of magneticnanotheranostics composed of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles coated withfolic acid intended to the sustained release of DOXO. The administrationof DOXO by means of these MNPs resulted in the enhancement of cell deathrespect to the free drug administration. Chromatin compaction andcytoplasmic protrusions were observed. Mitochondrial transmembranepotential disruption and increased PARP protein cleavage confirmedapoptosis. The nanosystem was also tested as a vectoring tool by exposingit to the stimuli of a static magnetic field in vitro. CRC-relatedmagnetic nanotechnology still remains in pre-clinical trials. In thiscontext, this contribution expands the knowledge of the behavior of MNPsin contact with in vitro models and proposes the nanodevices studied hereas potential theranostic agents for the monitoring of the progress of CRCand the evolution of its treatment.