Luminescent – Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles functionalized with biomolecules and lanthanides ions. Potential platforms for theranostic applications

Abstract

This investigation describes the synthesis, characterization, and in vitro cytotoxic evaluation of luminescent-superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) functionalized with biomolecules and Eu3+ and Tb3+ complexes. They emerge as strong candidates for a large number of biomedical applications, such as drug delivery for bioapplications in therapy and diagnosis (theranostic). Aiming these applications, magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) functionalized with biocompatible ligands, Chitosan (CS) and Glutathione (GSH) and Eu3+ and Tb3+ β-Diketonates complexes were synthesized by a one-step procedure and characterized by different experimental techniques. Regarding bioapplication, their cytotoxicity using the cell viability assay of the blood mononuclear cell fraction were performed. The results show that the cytotoxicity depends on the concentration, nature of ligands and complexes. The SPIONs are luminescent with emission in the visible region under ultraviolet excitation and stable in nanoscale in aqueous medium. They are good candidates as nano-luminescent carriers in biomedical applications.