Iron oxide nanoparticles promote vascular endothelial cells survival from oxidative stress by enhancement of autophagy.

Dextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Dex-SPIONs) are excellent magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents for disease diagnosis and therapy. They can be delivered to target tissues mainly though vascular endothelium cells, which are major targets of oxidative stress. In cardiovascular cells, autophagy serves primarily on a pro-survival approach that protects the cells from oxidative stress even some autophagy inducers have been developed for adjuvant therapy of cardiovascular disorders.

Reduction of polyethylenimine-coated iron oxide nanoparticles induced autophagy and cytotoxicity by lactosylation.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles are excellent magnetic resonance contrast agents and surface engineering can expand their applications. When covered with amphiphilic alkyl-polyethyleneimine (PEI), the modified SPIO nanoparticles can be used as MRI visible gene/drug delivery carriers and cell tracking probes. However, the positively charged amines of PEI can also cause cytotoxicity and restricts their further applications.