Design and Testing of Dual-Targeted Gd₃N@C80-Containing Glioblastoma Theranostics

Figure 9

MTT cell viability assay confirms the cytotoxic effect of single- (Tf) and dual-tagged (Tf+Lf) theranostics on U251-MG cells. The cell viability is indicated in percent after 72 h of incubation of U251-MG cells with Tf- and Lf-tagged (Tf+Lf), Tf-tagged (Tf), and Lf-tagged (Lf) liposomes all loaded with Gd₃N@C80 and DXR; blank liposomes (loaded with Gd₃N@C80 but devoid of DXR) and free DXR (nonencapsulated DXR). The untreated cells were set to 100% (controls) cellular viability. These results are representatives of three independent experiments and the data values are expressed as the deviation (SD), . (b) A comparison of U251-MG cells treated with DXR-free liposomes with respect to those treated with DXR-loaded liposomes supported the cytotoxic effect of the theranostics on glioma cells. Cells treated with targeted liposomes loaded with DXR and those treated with free DXR showed low viability as depicted with light microscope visualizations of the cells after 72 h of the treatment. The images from right to left represent U251-MG cells treated with TF-tagged (Gd₃N@C80- and DXR-loaded), LF-tagged (Gd₃N@C80- and DXR-loaded), and TF+LF-tagged (Gd₃N@C80- and DXR-loaded) liposomes, free DXR, blank liposomes (Gd₃N@C80-loaded but DXR-free), and untreated cells.

(a)

(b)