Uptake mechanism of riboflavin-functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in triple-negative breast cancer cells.

        Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are nanoparticles already used in medical imaging and cancer treatment. In this study, researchers used riboflavin (vitamin B2), a natural molecule important for cell function, to guide these particles. Many cancer cells, including breast cancer cells, have more riboflavin transporters on their surface, making them easier to target with riboflavin-linked particles. The riboflavin-coated SPIONs (Rf-SPIONs) created in this study were stable and showed strong uptake by breast cancer cells, especially the aggressive triple-negative type, while they had much less uptake in normal breast cells. Further experiments confirmed that these particles enter cancer cells mainly through the riboflavin transporters.

        Overall, these findings suggest that riboflavin-coated nanoparticles could be a powerful new tool for precisely targeting cancer cells, improving imaging, and delivering treatments more effectively.