Multicellular spheroids formation: The synergistic effects of halloysite nanoclay and cationic magnetic nanoparticles

We investigated the influence of halloysite nanotubes and magnetic nanoparticles stabilized by positively charged polyelectrolyte polyallyamine hydrochloride (PAH) on the built-up of multicellular spheroids using cancer and primary cell cultures. We found no adverse effects caused by the nanoparticles investigated on the formation of 3D cell structures. The use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) has allowed controlling the spheroid spatial movement, which may find applications in cell biology, tissue engineering and nanomedicine. We have also shown for the first time that halloysite nanotubes do not affect the formation of spheroids, including those formed from mesenchymal stem cells.