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Sol–gel synthesis of strontium ferrate (SrFeO3) nanoparticles and evaluation of anti-leukemic effects against leukemic cell lines

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Abstract

Several studies have shown that metallic nanoparticles have a therapeutic impact on leukemia cells. On the other hand, the majority of these particles are hazardous to healthy and malignant cells. SrFeO3 nanoparticles were synthesized in the current study using sol–gel procedures. Several analytical methods, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and dynamic light scattering (DLS), were used to characterize the resulting nanoparticles. The considered particle size utilizing XRD was discovered to be in the range of 50 ± 2 nm, which was further confirmed by DLS analysis. The Nalm-6 (ALL) and the K562 (CML) cell lines and PBMCs (Normal cells) were treated with 25, 50, 100, 150, and 200 µg/ml of strontium nanoparticles for 24 and 48 h. Afterward, the cell viability and cell death were evaluated via MTT assays and flow cytometry analysis. The strontium nanoparticles with concentrations above 150 μg/mL could cause a cytotoxic effect on the Nalm-6 and K562 leukemic cells. Strontium nanoparticles exhibited no harmful impact on healthy PBMCs, even though the flow cytometry examination revealed that apoptosis is the primary process of leukemic cell death. Thus, SrFeO3 nanoparticles show potential for application in future anti-leukemic therapies and pave the way to a new study setting.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

  • Strontium ferrate nanoparticles suppressed the growth of leukemia cell lines.

  • Strontium ferrate nanoparticles were nontoxic to normal PBMC cells.

  • Strontium ferrate nanoparticles increased apoptosis in leukemia cells.

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The data would be available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are willing to express their sincere thanks for the support provided by the Kerman University of Medical Sciences for this project.

Author contributions

MHA: Investigation, Writing- Original draft preparation, Visualization, Methodology. MT: Writing- Reviewing and Editing. MA: Writing- Reviewing and Editing. AF: Resources, Formal analysis, Writing- Reviewing and Editing. MA: Conceptualization, Supervision, Methodology, Formal analysis, Validation, Writing- Reviewing and Editing.

Funding

Kerman University of Medical Sciences with grant number (400001165).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesia, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Mojgan Taeby

  2. Department of Hematology and Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Muhammad Hossein Ashoub, Mahsa Asghari & Alireza Farsinejad

  3. Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Comprehensive Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Muhammad Hossein Ashoub & Alireza Farsinejad

  4. Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Science, Kerman, Iran

    Mahnaz Amiri

  5. Student Research Committee, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Mahnaz Amiri

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  1. Mojgan Taeby
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  2. Muhammad Hossein Ashoub
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Correspondence to Mahnaz Amiri.

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The study gained the approval of the ethical committee of the Kerman University of Medical Sciences with the Ethical approval code: IR.KMU.REC.1401.320. All methods were performed following the relevant guidelines and regulations.

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Taeby, M., Ashoub, M.H., Asghari, M. et al. Sol–gel synthesis of strontium ferrate (SrFeO3) nanoparticles and evaluation of anti-leukemic effects against leukemic cell lines. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 109, 56–65 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06251-2

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