Evaluation of the Effect of Polyethyleneimine-Based Nanoparticles Containing Scorpion Venom (Mesobuthus eupeus) on the Growth of Sf9 Cell Line

Despite the benefits of chemical pesticides in killing pests, they are dangerous to organisms and the environment. Hence, natural and biological agents have been used to control pests for nearly two decades. According to studies on the mechanism of scorpion peptides, it is a factor in controlling pests. However, some experimental results show that the insect immune system responds to pathogens that enter the body and inhibit the microbial effect of external factors. Today, nanotechnology is found in a wide range of ap¬plications in the pharmaceutical, and agricultural industries. Therefore, in this study, we tried to evaluate the effect of nanoparticles based on polyethyleneimine (PEI) containing Mesobuthus eupeus scorpion venom on the Sf9 cell line. For this purpose, Sf9 cells were placed in a 96-well plate. Then concentrations of 10, 25, and 35 μg/ml scorpion venom and PEI-based nanoparticles were added to the Sf9 cells. The cells were exposed to toxins for 24 hours. Then results were determined using the cell cytotoxicity test (MTT assay). This study showed that with increasing the concentration of PEI derivatives, toxicity in the Sf9 cell line decreased. Also, considering the effect of PEI hydrophobicity modification on increasing PEI transfection efficiency, the ability to transfer M. eupeus scorpion venom to the Sf9 cell line with minimal toxicity in¬creases. All PEI derivatives were able to effectively deliver the M. eupeus venom. In this study, PEI poly¬plexes and M. eupeus scorpion venom did not differ significantly on Sf9 cell line toxicity.