Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) and Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) Based Nanocomposites Prepared by Low-Temperature Route and Their Anticancer Properties

Abstract

In this work, a facile low temperature solution route was reported for the preparation of monodisperse Fe3O4 nanoparticles and their reduced graphene oxide (RGO) based nanocomposites and used as anticancer agents. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy XRD and Raman studies revealed the high crystalline nature of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles and the presence of characteristic peaks of RGO in Fe3O4/RGO nanocomposites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs showed the morphology of the RGO nanosheets decorated by Fe3O4 nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 10–15 nm. High resolution (HR)-TEM study revealed the formation of Fe3O4/RGO nanocomposites with the interplanar spacing corresponding to the (311) plane of Fe3O4. The anti-cancer properties of Fe3O4/RGO nanocomposites against A549 cells were investigated using MTT, NRU assay, morphology of cells, and ROS generation analyses and compared with the pure Fe3O4 nanoparticles. In comparison between both the pure Fe3O4 and Fe3O4/RGO nanocomposites, more damage to the A549 cells resulted from the nanocomposites at a similar concentration of 100 μg/ml. The cell viability test showed that 36% cell viability was observed at a concentration of 100 μg/ml for Fe3O4/RGO nanocomposites. Additionally, the percentage of ROS generation for Fe3O4/RGO nanocomposites was higher than that of Fe3O4 at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. These results suggested that the as-synthesized nanocomposites might be a potential candidate for future anticancer agents.