Surface-modified CoFe2O4 nanoparticles using Folate-Chitosan for cytotoxicity Studies, hyperthermia applications and Positive/Negative contrast of MRI

Abstract

Performance evaluation was conducted for hyperthermia and positive/negative contrast agents incorporating in-vivo angiography studies in Albino Wister rats using folate-chitosan (FC) coated cobalt ferrite (CF) nanoparticles. The structural characterizations were done using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The average particle size of CF nanoparticles was found to be 8 nm in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. The lattice fringe in the High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and discrete circular ring in the selected area electron diffraction (SEAD) pattern confirmed the high degree of crystallinity with single phase inverse spinel structure of CF nanoparticles. The TEM images of folate chitosan coated cobalt ferrite (FCCF) demonstrated that the particles were highly dispersed. Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) revealed no impurity phases and thermal analysis showed two transition temperatures around 284 °C and 614 °C, indicating the burning of folate and chitosan groups. The value of hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential of FCCF nanoparticles were satisfactory at lower concentration (0.5 mg/ml, 1 mg/ml, 2 mg/ml). The self-heating properties of FCCF revealed that the temperature increases with the increase of concentration while specific loss power (SLP) decreases. The cytotoxic effect of FCCF in HeLa cell line confirmed the survival of HeLa cells up to 80–85% for the lower concentration. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) investigation on phantom using fast spin-echo (FSE) sequence revealed fast-relaxation of 0.02 s for 0.125 mg/ml concentration. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) conducted on Albino Wister rats presented higher efficacy of contrast agent for FCCF administered rats than the non-administered rats.