Effects of magnetic gemcitabine stealth nano-liposomes on the characteristics of breast cancer cell line MCF-7

The magnetic responsibility and antitumor effect of magnetic gemcitabine stealth nano-liposomes (MGSL) on breast cancer cell line MCF-7 in vitro and in vivo was evaluated.  The magnetic response and  targeting effect of MGSL in vivo were investigated.  Morphological feature and ultrastructure changes of apoptosis of MCF-7 cells were observed.  The effect of MGSL on proliferation inhibitory rate of MCF-7 cells was measured with MTT method.  The FCM analysis was carried out to examine the cell cycle distribution and cell apoptotic rate.  The antitumor effect on human breast cancer xenografts in nude mice was also studied.  MGSL was able to converge at the targeting tissue under tridimensional magnetic field and the gemcitabine concentration around it increased, while the amount of gemcitabine in other organs decreased, such as in kidneys and heart.  MCF-7 cell line was sensitive to MGSL and the cytotoxity was correlated with the loaded drug dose.  The effect of MGSL on apoptosis of MCF-7 was obvious and the rate of apoptosis was 51.62%.  The growth speed of tumor in the group of MGSL (+) significantly slowed down than that of other groups.  MGSL prepared by reverse-phase evaporation method met with the demand of targeted delivery system, and it might be an effective antitumor agent.