Abstract
Spinel copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) and zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) nanoparticles were synthesized using a sol-gel self-combustion technique. The structural, functional, morphological and magnetic properties of the samples were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). XRD patterns conform to the copper ferrite and zinc ferrite formation, and the average particle sizes were calculated by using a transmission electron microscope, the measured particle sizes being 56 nm for CuFe2O4 and 68 nm for ZnFe2O4. Both spinel ferrite nanoparticles exhibit ferromagnetic behavior with saturation magnetization of 31 emug−1 for copper ferrite (50.63 Am2/Kg) and 28.8 Am2/Kg for zinc ferrite. Both synthesized ferrite nanoparticles were equally effective in scavenging 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) free radicals. ZnFe2O4 and CuFe2O4 nanoparticles showed 30.57% ± 1.0% and 28.69% ± 1.14% scavenging activity at 125 µg/mL concentrations. In vitro cytotoxicity study revealed higher concentrations (>125 µg/mL) of ZnFe2O4 and CuFe2O4 with increased toxicity against MCF-7 cells, but were found to be non-toxic at lower concentrations suggesting their biocompatibility.
Highlights
For some time, magnetic fine nanoparticles have been of major research interest because of their technological importance
We evaluated the cytotoxic effect of CuFe2 O4 and ZnFe2 O4 nanoparticles on the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) as described previously by Swamy et al [35]
The results revealed dose dependent cytotoxicity effect both ferrite nanoparticles
Summary
Magnetic fine nanoparticles have been of major research interest because of their technological importance. Considerable attention has been paid to magnetic nanoparticles due to their prospective applications in the field of biomedicine, biotechnology, material science and engineering. These nanoparticles exhibit good magnetic properties as well as various molecular and cellular level interactions in several biological processes [31]. Research has been focused on the improvement of the magnetic properties of nanomaterials by modifying their chemical structure, size and shape In this regard, we have successfully synthesized novel CuFe2 O4 and ZnFe2 O4 nanoparticles and evaluated their structural, magnetic, antioxidant and cytotoxicity properties
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