Hydroxyapatite and porphyrin-fullerene nanoparticles for diagnostic and therapeutic delivery of paramagnetic ions and radionuclides

Abstract

Nanoparticles for drug delivery are the subject of extensive research. Importantly, they can transform in size during synthesis or actual use, thereby changing their cytotoxic properties. The aim of the present work was to study the tendency of [ 67 Zn] porphyrin-fullerene nanoparticles (BFNP) to aggregate over time and to compare the properties of hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles obtained through 3 different techniques. We found that aggregation of BFNP nanoparticles does not affect their function but attenuates their cytotoxicity against leukemia cells. We were also able to obtain HAP nanoparticles with programmable properties (such as size, shape or the capacity to adsorb metal ions, ligands and chemical complexes) through enzymatic synthesis by varying its conditions. The synthesized HAP nanoparticles contain short-lived isotopes of zinc and copper (in the form of ions and complexes with pyrimidine or thiazine derivatives). These tumoricidal components (a radionuclide and a ligand or a complex) determine the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of the obtained radiopharmaceutical agents.