Magnetoelectric nanoparticles for delivery of antitumor peptides into glioblastoma cells by magnetic fields

Aim: We studied externally controlled anticancer effects of binding tumor growth inhibiting synthetic peptides to magnetoelectric nanoparticles (MENs) on treatment of glioblastomas. Methods: Hydrothermally synthesized 30-nm MENs had the core-shell composition of CoFe₂O₄@BaTiO₃. Molecules of growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonist of the MIA class (MIA690) were chemically bound to MENs. In vitro experiments utilized human glioblastoma cells (U-87MG) and human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Results: The studies demonstrated externally controlled high-efficacy binding of MIA690 to MENs, targeted specificity to glioblastoma cells and on-demand release of the peptide by application of d.c. and a.c. magnetic fields, respectively. Conclusion: The results support the use of MENs as an effective drug delivery carrier for growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonists in the treatment of human glioblastomas.