Immobilization of carboranes on Fe3O4-polymer nanocomposites for potential application in boron neutron cancer therapy

Abstract In this article, superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were modified with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (TMSPM), to create C = C double bonds for further graft polymerization of biocompatible glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). These modified Fe3O4 NPs can be used for payload attachment for magnetic targeted delivery. Isopropyl-o-carborane was successfully immobilized on prepared NPs for potential application in boron neutron capture therapy of cancer (BNCT). FTIR, SEM, EDX, DLS, VSM and Mossbauer spectroscopy were used to evaluate the structure, morphology, element, chemical composition as well as magnetic properties of the NP samples. The cytotoxicity effect was evaluated on different cell lines: HeLa, BxPC-3, MCF-7, and L929. Results indicate successful immobilization of carboranes on Fe3O4 NPs with maintaining of superparamagnetic properties and with low cytotoxic effect.