Biocompatibility and proteomic profiling of DMSA-coated iron nanocubes in a human glioblastoma cell line - supplementary data

<b>Background: </b>Superparamagnetic iron core iron oxide shell nanocubes have previously shown superior performance in magnetic resonance imaging T2 contrast enhancement compared with spherical nanoparticles. <b>Methods: </b>Iron core iron oxide shell nanocubes were synthesized, stabilized with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA-NC) and physicochemically characterized. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement and biocompatibility were assessed <i>in vitro</i>. <b>Results: </b>DMSA-NC showed a transverse relaxivity of 122.59 mM-1<b>·</b>s-1 Fe. Treatment with DMSA-NC did not induce cytotoxicity or oxidative stress in U-251 cells, and electron microscopy demonstrated DMSA-NC localization within endosomes and lysosomes in cells following internalization. Global proteomics revealed dysregulation of iron storage, transport, transcription and mRNA processing proteins. <b>Conclusion: </b>DMSA-NC is a promising T2 MRI contrast agent which, in this preliminary investigation, demonstrates favorable biocompatibility with an astrocyte cell model.