Farinha, Carlos, 1973-Lima, Wilmara Vieira2022-12-292022-12-2920222022http://hdl.handle.net/10451/55542Tese de mestrado, Bioquímica (Bioquímica), 2022, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de CiênciasCurrently, biomedical applications of nanotechnology have gained special attention. In this field iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have several advantages including their super-paramagnetic capability, thermodynamic stability, and biocompatibility. These particles can be used in magnetic hyperthermia, a method of cancer treatment, as agents to kill or weaken the cancer cells, and can also be used as a nanocarriers of anticancer agents. In this work we characterized the impact of novel IONPs in human cell lines. We have used several in vitro assays to assess the cytotoxicity and uptake of these particles and tested the impact of 6 novel iron oxide-based magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) on two human cell lines, a tumour one (Caco-2) and a non-tumour (NCM460). We found that the samples tested in general are much more toxic towards NCM460 cells and that only high concentrations are toxic towards Caco-2 cells. Curiously, we observed that citric acid, a commonly stabilizing agent to MNPs and used here in MNP1 and MNP2, was partially toxic to cells. We also found a general impact towards cell cycle progression in NCM460 cells that wasn’t observed for Caco-2 cells. Interestingly, MNP3 to 6 delayed Caco-2 cell adhesion, but the effect was absent for the non-tumour NCM460 cells – which may relate with a general increase in the percentage of necrotic Caco-2 cells upon treatment with the same MNPs. We observed in general that the MNPs tested were efficiently uptaken by both cell types – with an apparently increased uptake in Caco-2 cells. The results shown here for the set of novel IONPs gives clear indications for alterations in the synthesis method – towards the use of a harmless stabilizer and to adjustments to allow specific MNP targeting to tumour cells.engNanopartículas magnéticas de oxido de ferro (IONPs)Hipertermia Magnética (MH)Caracterização biológicaCélulas do epitélio intestinalTeses de mestrado - 2022master thesis203206568