Real-time tracking of delayed-onset cellular apoptosis induced by intracellular magnetic hyperthermia.
Paraules clau
Resum
OBJECTIVE
To assess cell death pathways in response to magnetic hyperthermia.
METHODS
Human melanoma cells were loaded with citric acid-coated iron-oxide nanoparticles, and subjected to a time-varying magnetic field. Pathways were monitored in vitro in suspensions and in situ in monolayers using fluorophores to report on early-stage apoptosis and late-stage apoptosis and/or necrosis.
RESULTS
Delayed-onset effects were observed, with a rate and extent proportional to the thermal-load-per-cell. At moderate loads, membranal internal-to-external lipid exchange preceded rupture and death by a few hours (the timeline varying cell-to-cell), without any measurable change in the local environment temperature.
CONCLUSIONS
Our observations support the proposition that intracellular heating may be a viable, controllable and nonaggressive in vivo treatment for human pathological conditions.
