Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Mediated Gene Therapy —A Study in Vitro on Breast Cancer

Objective 　To study the feasibility of using TRAIL gene to treat breast cancer mediated by PEI coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (polyMA G-1000) . The therapeutic efficacy was also be evaluated. Methods 　PEI coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were used as gene carrier to transfect TRAIL gene into MCF-7 cells. The polyMA G-1000 without TRAIL gene was t ransfected into the tumor cells as negative cont rol and liposome mediated TRAIL gene t ransfection was taken as positive cont rol. The apoptosis of cells were detected by TUNEL method. The apoptosis ratio of tumor cells were measured with flow cytometry ( FCM) . Results 　The apoptosis of cells was demonst rated after transfecting TRAIL gene mediated by both polyMAG-1000 and liposome. The apoptosis ratio in the group with polyMA G-1000 as gene carrier were 25. 11 % ±2. 85 %, whereas it was 5. 06 % ±1. 05 % in the cont rol group with polyMA G-1000 ( P < 0. 01) . The lower apoptosis ratio of 18. 31 % ±2. 44 % was showed in the group with liposome as gene carrier ( P < 0. 05, compared with the group with polyMA G-1000 as gene carrier) . Conclusion 　TRAIL gene may induce apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The PEI coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles may be a potential gene carrier with high transfection efficacy in cancer gene therapy.