Synthesis and morphological studies of Tc‐99m‐labeled lupulone‐conjugated Fe₃O₄@TiO₂ nanocomposite, and in vitro cytotoxicity activity on prostate cancer cell lines

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a multifunctional theranostic probe for imaging (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and single‐photon emission computed tomography [SPECT]) and therapy (photodynamic therapy). For this purpose, Tc‐99m‐labeled lupulone‐conjugated Fe3O4@TiO2 nanocomposites (99mTc‐DTPA‐Fe3O4@TiO2‐HLP and 99mTc‐DTPA‐Fe3O4@TiO2‐ALP nanocomposites) were synthesized. The average diameter of the nanocomposites was 171 ± 20 nm as seen on transmission electron microscopy images. Fe3O4@TiO2 nanocomposites exhibited fluorescence spectra at an emission wavelength of 314 nm. Lupulone‐conjugated Fe3O4@TiO2 nanocomposites were spherical‐shaped with a suitable dispersion and without visible aggregation, and their radiolabeling yields were over 85%. Healthy (RWPE‐1 normal human prostate epithelial cell line) and cancer prostate cell lines (PC‐3 human prostate cancer cell line) were used to determine the in vitro biological behavior of the nanocomposites. The PC‐3 cells treated with lupulone‐conjugated Fe3O4@TiO2 nanocomposites showed a lower cell viability compared with RWPE‐1 cells treated with lupulone‐conjugated Fe3O4@TiO2 nanocomposites. Lupulone‐modified Fe3O4@TiO2 nanocomposites may serve in the future as a multifunctional probe for positron emission tomography (PET)/MRI, photodynamic therapy, and hyperthermia therapy of cancer.