Gene expression and nanoparticle uptake by osteoblasts exposed to hydroxyapatite coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles

Iron oxide nanoparticles are promising candidates for drug delivery systems to treat osteoporosis due to their biocompatibility and magnetic properties. Magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized using a co-precipitation method and coated with hydroxyapatite (HA). Effects of HA coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles on osteoblast gene expression were investigated focused on the following genes: osteocalcin, collagen I and cbfa. The results demonstrated that the nanoparticles induced no genotoxicity to osteoblasts after 24 hours of treatment. Time dependent nanoparticle uptake into osteoblasts was also reported. After 4 - 6 hours of the addition of nanoparticles to cells, the uptake amount into osteoblasts reached saturation.