Neutron reflectometry and lung cancer in vitro study of the interaction between mesoporous magnetic nanocarriers and plasma membranes

The interactions between plasma membranes and smart magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) have been investigated using a synergistic combination of complementary methods. The unique coupling of neutron reflectometry and in vitro assays provides deeper insight into the mechanism of NP penetration through plasma cell membranes and thin lipid bilayers. Model membranes were exposed to pomegranate-like NPs consisting of Fe3O4 magnetic bead clusters (DXRD 9 nm) capped with a thick mesoporous silica shell (tSEM 40 nm). Neutron reflectometry and quartz crystal microbalance experiments showed that supported DMPC lipid bilayers remain unaffected by the NPs, even under an external magnetic field. These conclusions were reconfirmed by in vitro assays on human A549 lung cancer cells using fluorescent and confocal microscopy, localizing the NPs without significant cell damage over 24 hours. These results highlight the immense biomedical application potential of the prepared pomegranate-like nanocarriers. Deliverable via external magnetic fields and capable of stimulus-responsive hydrophobic drug release within their silica shell, our magnetic nanoparticles may facilitate faster and more efficient treatments for cancer and inflammatory diseases.