Toward A High Throughput Label-Free Platform for Monitoring Interaction Between Cells and Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

This thesis focuses on cytotoxicity examination of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) using different methods, including impedance spectroscopy. Despite the significant advances in adapting various biological and chemical methods to assess in-vitro toxicity of SPIONs, less attention has been paid on the development of a high throughput label-free screening platform to study the interaction between the cells and nanoparticles. In this thesis, we have taken the first step by proposing a label-free impedimetric method for monitoring cells treated with SPIONs. This study has demonstrated the effects of SPIONs on the adhesion, growth, proliferation, and viability of neuroblastoma 2A cells using impedance spectroscopy in comparison to other standard microscopic and cell viability testing methods. Results suggest that the change in impedance of electrodes exposed to the mixture of cells and SPIONs offers a wide dynamic range suitable for monitoring the effects of SPIONs with a concentration of less than 100 g/mL.