The magnetic isotope effect as a tool for apoptosis modulation in leukemic cells

Lymphocytes from healthy donors and leukemic cells of patients with acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia (BALL-1) and acute myeloid leukemia were exposed to nanoparticles bearing magnetic (Zn-67) and nonmagnetic (total isotope pool) nuclei of zinc. The values of the corresponding magnetic isotope effects determined as the ratio of LD₅₀ magnitudes of preparations with magnetic and nonmagnetic zinc isotopes were 0, 3.5, and 1.5. Morphological studies using confocal and fluorescence microscopy showed apoptotic death of cells with the preparations; as well, there was an increase in the cell aggregation and better aggregation of nanoparticles in the case of ⁶⁷Zn-NP, which resulted in a decrease of cytotoxicity. However the magnetic isotope effect was observed even in the case of aggregation.