GO-Fe3O4 Nanoparticle Composite for Selective Targeting of Cancer Cells

Graphene oxide (GO) based nanocomposites have attracted lot of attention in the biomedical field, especially for the diagnosis and treatment of tumors. Using invitro studies, recent reports have illustrated the ability of graphene oxide for selective killing of several cancer cell lines. Coupling of the anticancer property of graphene oxide with magnetic nanoparticles makes the graphene oxide-nanoparticle composite a potential material for diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In this work, GO-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle composite was synthesized by the co-precipitation method. The GO-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle composite was thoroughly analyzed for their potential towards killing of cancer cell lines by various assays like MTT, cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry, flow cytometric analysis of apoptosis and necrosis, apoptotic characterization of HL-60 cells using fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometric measurement of intracellular peroxides (ROS). All these biological end-points indicated cell death by apoptosis. Here, we report that GO-Fe₃O₄ composites interact with HeLa and cause dose dependent cytotoxicity which robustly induced cell cycle arrest, annexin V–FITC staining and reactive oxygen species generation.