Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences
 

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OLEIC ACID DOUBLE-COATED Fe₃O₄-BASED MAGNETIC COLLOIDAL SUSPENSION INDUCES DOSE-DEPENDENT CYTOTOXICITY AND MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION IN HEPG2 CELLS

SIMONA GEORGETA RADUȚ (MIHART) 1#, AURELIA GABRIELA ANTAL 2,3#, CAMELIA NICOLESCU 1*, VLAD SOCOLIUC 4,5, ROBERT IANOŞ 6, IASMINA-ALEXANDRA PREDESCU 1,7,8, DIANA HAJ ALI 1,7,8, CRISTINA-ADRIANA DEHELEAN 7,8, LAURA SBÂRCEA 7,9,10, ELENA-ALINA MOACĂ 7,⁸

¹ Doctoral School, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041, Timișoara, Romania
2 Research Centre for Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Design (X-Pharm Design), “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041, Timișoara, Romania
3 Department of Pharmacology-Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
4 Laboratory of Magnetic Fluids, Center for Fundamental and Advanced Technical Research, Romanian Academy - Timișoara Branch, 24 M. Viteazu Avenue, 300223, Timișoara, Romania
5 Research Center for Complex Fluids Systems Engineering, Politehnica University of Timișoara, 1 M. Viteazu Avenue, 300222, Timișoara, Romania
6 Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnologies and Environmental Protection, Politehnica University Timișoara, 6 Vasile Pârvan Boulevard, 300223, Timișoara, Romania
7 Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041, Timișoara, Romania
8 Research Centre for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, “Victor Babeș”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041, Timișoara, Romania
9 Department of Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041, Timișoara, Romania
10 Advanced Instrumental Screening Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041, Timișoara, Romania

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The present study aimed to characterize the physicochemical properties and evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic effects of a magnetic colloidal suspension (MCS@OA/PBS) based on Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles coated with a double layer of oleic acid and dispersed in phosphate-buffered saline. Physicochemical characterization revealed magnetic behavior suitable for biomedical applications, a hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 46.6 nm, and satisfactory colloidal stability. Assessment of cytotoxic effects on the HepG2 cell line demonstrated a concentration-dependent response, characterized by decreased cell viability, impaired lysosomal integrity, nuclear morphological changes, and compromised mitochondrial membrane integrity and potential. These results support the preliminary potential of MCS@OA/PBS as a nanoplatform with possible future applications in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.