Controlling the Movement of Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Intended for Targeted Delivery of Cytostatics

BACKGROUND: A promising approach to solve the problem of cytostatic toxicity is targeted drug transport using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). PURPOSE: To use calculation to determine the optimal characteristics of the magnetic field for controlling MNPs in the body, and to evaluate the efficiency of magnetically controlled delivery of MNPs in vitro and in vivo to a tumour site in mice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For the in vitro study, reference MNPs were used, while for in vivo studies, MNPs coated in polylactide including fluorescent indocyanine (MNPs-ICG) were used. The in vivo luminescence intensity study was performed in mice with tumours, with and without of a magnetic field at the sites of interest. The studies were performed on a hydrodynamic stand developed at the Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Almazov National Medical Research Centre of the Ministry of Health of Russia. RESULTS: The use of neodymium magnets facilitated selective accumulation of MNPs. One minute after the administration of MNPs-ICG to mice with a tumour, MNPs-ICG predominantly accumulated in the liver, in the absence and presence of a magnetic field, which indicates its metabolic pathway. The intensity of the fluorescence in the animals’ livers did not change over time, although an increase in fluorescence in the tumour was observed in the presence of a magnetic field. CONCLUSION: This type of MNP, used in combination with a magnetic field of calculated strength, can form the basis for the development of magnetically controlled transport of cytostatic drugs into tumour tissue.