Background and objective: Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) emerge as a
promising tool for early cancer diagnostics and targeted therapy. However, both toxicity and
biological activity of SPIONs should be evaluated in detail. The aim of this study was to
synthesize superparamagnetic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (Co-SPIONs), and to investigate
their uptake, toxicity and effects on cancer stem-like properties in human pancreatic cancer
cell line MiaPaCa2 and human ovarian cancer cell line A2780.
Materials and methods: Co-SPIONs were produced by Massart's co-precipitation method. The
cells were treated with Co-SPIONs at three different concentrations (0.095, 0.48, and 0.95 mg/
mL) for 24 and 48 h. Cell viability and proliferation were analyzed after treatment. The stemlike
properties of cells were assessed by investigating the cell clonogenicity and expression
of cancer stem cell-associated markers, including CD24/ESA in A2780 cell line and CD44/
ALDH1 in MiaPaCa2 cell line. Magnetically activated cell sorting was used for the separation
of magnetically labeled and unlabeled cells.
Results: Both cancer cell lines accumulated Co-SPIONs, however differences in response to
nanoparticles were observed between MiaPaCa2 and A2780 cell. In particular, A2780 cells
were more sensitive to exposition to Co-SPIONs than MiaPaCa2 cells, indicating that a safe
concentration of nanoparticles must be estimated individually for a particular cell type.
Higher doses of Co-SPIONs decreased both the clonogenicity and ESA marker expression in
A2780 cells.