Effect of Fe_2O_3 nanoparticles on cell viability and apoptosis in RAW264.7 cells

Objective To study the effect of Fe2O3 nanoparticles on proliferation and apoptosis and the oxidative damage of RAW 264.7 cells.Methods The cytotoxicity and intervening concentration of nanoparticles were detected by MTT assays.0.24,0.48 and 0.96 mg/ml Fe2O3 nanoparticles suspension-intervened macrophages were set as Fe2O3 nanoparticle groups,and normal saline group was set as control group.The levels of LDH activity in medium were analyzed using the reagent kits.The mitochondrial membrane potent(MMP) and cell apoptosis rate were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results The proliferations of RAW 264.7 cells were suppressed when exposed to Fe2O3 nanoparticles of 0.816～3.523 mg/ml.The IC50 of Fe2O3 nanoparticles on RAW 264.7 cells was 1.76 mg/ml.The levels of LDH activity in Fe2O3 nanoparticle groups were higher than that of control group(P0.05).Flow cytometry assay showed that the MMP decreased in different exposure groups and cell apoptosis rate of exposure groups were higher than that of the control(P0.05).Conclusion Fe2O3 nanoparticles could cause cytotoxicity,increase cell membrane permeability and depress the activities of LDH.Fe2O3 nanoparticles could also reduce the MMP and lead to apoptosis in RAW 264.7 cells.