Preclinical evaluation of the biodistribution, safety, and hemocompatibility of PEG-coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles in a viral oncogenesis mouse model
Abstract
Previously, we demonstrated the biosafety of polyethylene glycol-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (MAG@PEG) in a cellular model of viral oncogenesis, supporting their further preclinical evaluation. Herein, we evaluated the safety and biodistribution of MAG@PEG in tumor-bearing mice and assessed the influence of an external magnetic field on nanoparticle distribution. Animals were randomly assigned to three groups: G1, control (PBS); G2, MAG@PEG (10 mg/kg); and G3, MAG@PEG (10 mg/kg) with magnetic exposure for 1 h. Doses were administered intraperitoneally weekly for 1 month. Results showed that animal behavior and body weight were unaffected by MAG@PEG, while tumor growth was significantly reduced only in G2. Biodistribution studies based on tissue magnetization revealed higher magnetic iron levels in the stomach followed by the spleen, lungs, and tumors, particularly in G2. Histological analysis detected Prussian blue-positive staining mainly in the spleen and in lymphoid-associated structures in the lung, stomach and intestine, while a fraction of MAG@PEG remained within the peritoneal cavity. Serum biochemistry showed no evidence of nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, hemocompatibility studies using human blood samples demonstrated that MAG@PEG was non-hemolytic according to the ASTM F756 standard. Taken together, the biodistribution, histological, biochemical, and hemocompatibility findings provide a comprehensive preclinical assessment of the biosafety of MAG@PEG and identify the route of administration and magnetic targeting as key determinants of nanoparticle biodistribution.
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BibTeX
@misc{principe2026preclinical,
title = {{Preclinical evaluation of the biodistribution, safety, and hemocompatibility of PEG-coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles in a viral oncogenesis mouse model}},
author = {G. Principe and S. Tiburzi and V. Lezcano and G. Montiel Schneider and F. Sives and F. Sanchez and B. Garcia and V. Lassalle and V. Gonzalez-Pardo},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.29.755312},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755312v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Preclinical evaluation of the biodistribution, safety, and hemocompatibility of PEG-coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles in a viral oncogenesis mouse model
AU - G. Principe
AU - S. Tiburzi
AU - V. Lezcano
AU - G. Montiel Schneider
AU - F. Sives
AU - F. Sanchez
AU - B. Garcia
AU - V. Lassalle
AU - V. Gonzalez-Pardo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/29
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.29.755312
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755312v1
AB - Previously, we demonstrated the biosafety of polyethylene glycol-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (MAG@PEG) in a cellular model of viral oncogenesis, supporting their further preclinical evaluation. Herein, we evaluated the safety and biodistribution of MAG@PEG in tumor-bearing mice and assessed the influence of an external magnetic field on nanoparticle distribution. Animals were randomly assigned to three groups: G1, control (PBS); G2, MAG@PEG (10 mg/kg); and G3, MAG@PEG (10 mg/kg) with magnetic exposure for 1 h. Doses were administered intraperitoneally weekly for 1 month. Results showed that animal behavior and body weight were unaffected by MAG@PEG, while tumor growth was significantly reduced only in G2. Biodistribution studies based on tissue magnetization revealed higher magnetic iron levels in the stomach followed by the spleen, lungs, and tumors, particularly in G2. Histological analysis detected Prussian blue-positive staining mainly in the spleen and in lymphoid-associated structures in the lung, stomach and intestine, while a fraction of MAG@PEG remained within the peritoneal cavity. Serum biochemistry showed no evidence of nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, hemocompatibility studies using human blood samples demonstrated that MAG@PEG was non-hemolytic according to the ASTM F756 standard. Taken together, the biodistribution, histological, biochemical, and hemocompatibility findings provide a comprehensive preclinical assessment of the biosafety of MAG@PEG and identify the route of administration and magnetic targeting as key determinants of nanoparticle biodistribution.
ER -