Luteolin-Loaded Spion as a Drug Carrier for Cancer Cell In Vitro

The aim of this study is to determine the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of newly synthesized folic acid (FA) and luteolin (carboxylated luteolin (CL)) conjugated superparamagnetic nanoparticle (SPION@FA-PEG@CL) on folate receptor positive (FAR (+)) and negative (FAR (-)) cell lines in vitro. Cytotoxicity analysis by real-time cell analyzer system (RTCA) and apoptosis by TUNEL and Annexin assay, Caspase 3/7 activities, and Caspase 3/7 expression level were determined. According to RTCA results, SPION@FA-PEG@CL nanodrug showed higher cytotoxicity against U87, MCF-7, HeLa cell lines in comparison with L929 and A549 cell lines. TUNEL and Annexin assays indicated that SPION@FA-PEG@CL increased the apoptotic and necrotic cell ratio in FAR (+) cell. In L929 and A549 cells, are FAR (-) cell lines apoptotic and necrotic cell ratio was lower than FAR (+) cell lines (U87, MCF-7 and HeLa). Caspase 3 and 7 analyses also showed that SPION@FA-PEG@CL nanodrug have apoptotic and necrotic impact on cell lines, they were higher in FAR (+) cells than FAR (-) cells. According to results, synthesized SPION@FA-PEG@CL can be a novel nanodrug delivery system for in cancer chemotherapy.