Targeted Removal of Migratory Tumor Cells by Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles Impedes Metastasis and Tumor Progression

Abstract

Aims: To slow tumor progression by reducing migratory tumor cell burden using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) functionalized with ligands selective for malignant cell surface receptors. Materials & methods: Three groups of female C57BL/6 mice (control group I, control group II and experimental group) were intraperitoneally injected with a murine ovarian cancer cell line (ID8[VEGF160⁺/eGFP⁺]). Control group I received no intervention. MNPs were functionalized with ephrin-A1 mimetic peptides selective for the EphA2 receptor that is highly expressed by several cancers. Peritoneal fluids were removed by paracentesis from the experimental group and mixed with the functionalized MNPs. Magnetic filtration was used to remove particle/malignant cell conjugates and filtered peritoneal fluids were re-introduced intraperitoneally. Control group II received the same treatment as the experimental group without MNPs. Results: Experimental group tumor progression was 10.77-times slower than that of control group I. Conclusion: Reduction of malignant cell titer significantly prolonged time to end point in a metastatic ovarian cancer model.

Keywords::

• magnetic filtration
• magnetic nanoparticles
• metastasis
• metastatic disease
• ovarian cancer

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The research was supported by grants from The Georgia Research Alliance, The Ovarian Cancer Institute, The Robinson Family Foundation and the Deborah Nash Harris Endowment. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.

Additional information

Funding

The research was supported by grants from The Georgia Research Alliance, The Ovarian Cancer Institute, The Robinson Family Foundation and the Deborah Nash Harris Endowment. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.