Effects of DMSA-coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles on global gene expression of mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells

Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with 2,3-dimercaptosuccinnic acid (DMSA) are considered to be a promising nanomaterial with biocompatibility. In the present study, the effects of DMSA-coated Fe3O4 MNPs on the expression of all identified mouse genes, which regulate various cellular biological processes, were determined to establish whether this nanoparticle is cytotoxic to mammalian cells. Mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells were treated with 100 μg/ml of DMSA-coated Fe3O4 MNPs for 4, 24 and 48 h, and the global gene expression was detected via Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 GeneChips® microarrays. It was found that gene expression of 711, 545 and 434 transcripts was significantly altered by 4-, 24- and 48-h treatments, respectively. Of these genes, 27 were consistently upregulated and 6 were consistently downregulated at the three treatment durations. Bioinformatic analysis of all differentially expressed genes revealed that this nanoparticle can strongly activate inflammatory and immune responses and can inhibit the biosynthesis and metabolism of RAW264.7 cells at a dose of 100 μg/ml. These results demonstrated that DMSA-coated Fe3O4 MNPs display cytotoxicity in this type of macrophage at high doses.

► We prepared water-soluble DMSA-coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). ► We investigated their effects on the global gene expression of RAW264.7 cell. ► The expression of many genes was altered by the treatments of this nanoparticle. ► The inflammatory and immune responses of RAW264.7 cells were strongly activated at a dose of 100 μg/ml. ► This nanoparticles display cytotoxicity in this type of macrophage at high doses.