An iron-oxide nanoparticle with therapeutic capability in Magnetic Fluid Hyperthermia and diagnostic capability in MRI and MPI

M55 belongs to a class of innovative nanomaterials, constituted by doped ferrite, with potential application in tumor therapy, as agents for Magnetic Fluid Hyperthermia (MFH), and in diagnosis, as contrast agents for MRI and MPI. Interestingly, such nanomaterials are characterized by a self-limiting temperature that can be modulated by adjusting the composition of the nanomaterial itself. M55 was coated with a double shell of citrate and glucose. We demonstrated that it has good capability as contrast agent for MRI and MPI. Moreover we tested its biocompatibility in a triple negative human breast cancer line and its efficacy as MFH agent in the same cell line. This agent was highly efficient in decreasing cell viability after two MFH treatments. Finally, we demonstrated that it can be useful to label cells for cell tracking in MPI. Although preliminary, these results are encouraging and push toward in vivo tests of such material.