The function of chitosan/agarose biopolymer on Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles and evaluation of their effects on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and expression of BCL2 and BAX genes.

In recent decades, magnetic nanoparticles modified with biocompatible polymers have been recognized as a suitable tool for treating breast cancer. The aim of this research was to evaluate the function of chitosan/agarose-functionalized Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles on the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and the expression of BCL2 and BAX genes. Free Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal method. FTIR, XRD, SEM, DLS, VSM, and zeta potential analyses determined the size and morphological characteristics of the synthesized nanoparticles. The effect of Fe 2 O 3 free nanoparticles and formulated Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles on induction of apoptosis was studied by double-dye Annexin V-FITC and PI. Also, the gene expression results using the PCR method displayed that Fe 2 O 3 formulated nanoparticles induced BAX apoptosis by increasing the anti-apoptotic gene expression and decreasing the expression of pro-apoptotic gene BCL2, so the cell progresses to planned cell death. In addition, the results showed that the BAX/BCL2 ratio decreased significantly after treatment of MCF-7 cells with free Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles, and the BAX/BCL2 ratio for Fe 2 O 3 formulated nanoparticles increased significantly. Also, to evaluate cell migration, the scratch test was performed, which showed a decrease in motility of MCF-7 cancer cells treated with Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles formulated with chitosan/agarose at concentrations of 10, 50, 100, and 200 μg/ml.