Fe3O4 MNPs Research Articles

Hyperthermia and biological investigation of a novel magnetic nanobiocomposite based on acacia gum-silk fibroin hydrogel embedded with poly vinyl alcohol

The design and synthesis of biocompatible nanostructures for biomedical applications are considered vital challenges. Herein, a nanobiocomposite based on acacia hydrogel, natural silk fibroin protein, and synthetic protein fibers of polyvinyl alcohol was fabricated and magnetized with iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs). The structural properties of the hybrid nanobiocomposite were investigated by essential analyses such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and X-ray powder diffraction)XRD(analyses, Thermogravimetric and Differential thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTG), Vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM), and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX). The biological activities and functional properties of the prepared magnetic nanobiocomposite were studied. Results proved that this nanobiocomposite is non-toxic to the healthy HEK293T cell line. In addition, the synthesized nanobiocomposite showed an approximately 22 % reduction in cell viability of BT549 cells after 72 h. All results confirmed the anti-cancer properties of nanobiocomposite against breast cancer cell lines. Therefore, the prepared nanobiocomposite is an excellent material that can use for in-vivo application. Finally, the hyperthermia application was evaluated for this nanobiocomposite. The SAR was measured 93.08 (W/g) at 100 kHz.

Ultrasensitive detection platform for Staphylococcus aureus based on DNAzyme tandem blocking CRISPR/Cas12a system

Detection methods based on CRISPR/Cas12a have been widely developed in the application of pathogenic microorganisms to guarantee food safety and public health. For sensitive detection, the CRISPR-based strategies are often in tandem with amplification methods. However, that may increase the detection time and the process may introduce nucleic acid contamination resulting in non-specific amplification. Herein, we established a sensitive S. aureus detection strategy based on the CRISPR/Cas12a system combined with DNAzyme. The activity of Cas12a is blocked by extending the spacer of crRNA (bcrRNA) and can be reactivated by Mn2+. NH2-modified S. aureus-specific aptamer was loaded on the surface of Fe3O4 MNPs (apt-Fe3O4 MNPs) and MnO2 NPs (apt-MnO2 NPs) by EDC/NHS chemistry. The S. aureus was captured to form apt-Fe3O4 MNPs/S. aureus/apt-MnO2 NPs complex and then MnO2 NPs were etched to release Mn2+ to activate DNAzyme. The active DNAzyme can cleave the hairpin structure in bcrRNA to recover the activity of the CRISPR/Cas system. By initiating the whole detection process by generating Mn2+ through nanoparticle etching, we established a rapid detection assay without nucleic acid extraction and amplification process. The proposed strategy has been applied in the ultrasensitive quantitative detection of S. aureus and has shown good performance with an LOD of 5 CFU/mL in 29 min. Besides, the proposed method can potentially be applied to other targets by simply changing the recognition element and has the prospect of developing a universal detection strategy.

Deciphering the catalytic activity of nickel anchored on Fe3O4@SiO2@3-CPMS@L as a magnetically recoverable nanocatalyst for the efficacious reduction of 4-nitrophenol, nitrobenzene, and methyl orange

In this paper, a versatile heterogeneous nanocatalyst was fabricated employing a self-assembly technique. To commence, Fe3O4 MNPs were coated with a thin layer of SiO2 using the stobbers method. Subsequently, the surface was further functionalized with 3-CPMS, followed by a reaction with a Schiff base. Finally, nickel NPs were deposited on the surface through in situ deposition, forming the Fe3O4@SiO2@3-CPMS@L-Ni magnetic nanocatalyst. The architecture of this magnetic nanocatalyst was meticulously characterized through an array of sophisticated techniques: XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, BET and VSM. The XRD diffraction pattern confirmed the presence of Fe3O4 MNPs, SiO2, and Ni peaks, providing evidence for successful synthesis. Moreover, the successful functionalization with a Schiff base was demonstrated by the presence of an azomethane peak in the FTIR spectra of the synthesized nanocatalyst. The fabricated nanocatalyst was adeptly utilized for the reduction of 4-NP, NB, and MO demonstrating a remarkably elevated rate of catalytic efficacy. Moreover, this catalyst was effortlessly retrievable through the application of an external magnet, and it maintained its catalytic prowess across at least six consecutive cycles. The utilization of water as an environmentally friendly solvent, coupled with the utilization of abundant and cost-effective nickel catalyst instead of the costly Pd or Pt catalysts, along with the successful recovery and scalability of the catalyst, render this method highly advantageous from both environmental and economic perspectives for the reduction of 4-NP, NB, and MO.

Harnessing chemical functionality of xylan hemicellulose towards carbohydrate polymer-based pH/magnetic dual-responsive nanocomposite hydrogel for drug delivery

This study reports a pH/magnetic dual-responsive hemicellulose-based nanocomposite hydrogel with nearly 100 % carbohydrate polymer-based and biodegradable polymer compositions for drug delivery. We synthesized pure Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs) using a co-precipitation method, then engineering xylan hemicellulose (XH), acrylic acid, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate, and Fe3O4 to synthesize the pH/magnetic dual-responsive hydrogel (Fe3O4@XH-Gel), through graft polymerization on XH with in-situ doping Fe3O4 MNPs initiated by the ammonium persulfate/tetramethylethylenediamine redox system. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), swelling gravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were employed to analyze the hydrogel's chemical structures, morphologies, pH-responsive behaviors, and magnetic responsiveness characteristics, mechanical and rheological properties, as well as cytotoxicity and biodegradability. The results indicate that the Fe3O4@XH-Gel exhibited excellent dual responsiveness to pH and magnetism. Furthermore, an emphasis was placed on the in-depth analysis of the pH response mechanism. Finally, we utilized this cutting-edge hydrogel to investigate the controlled-release behavior of two model drugs, Acetylsalicylic acid and Theophylline. The hydrogel demonstrated exceptional controlled release attributes, positioning it as a potential carrier for targeted drug delivery, particularly to the gastrointestinal conditions.

Magnetically induced asymmetry and fuel-propulsion of lipid vesicles containing Fe3O4 micromotors

Artificial micro/nanomotors possess the capability to navigate intricate environments in accordance with a premeditated blueprint. Hybrid-propelled micromotors may present an efficacious approach in addressing scientific research quandaries. In this context, ferric oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs) are chosen as catalysts to be encapsulated within lipid vesicles (LVs) due to their superior quality and cost-effectiveness. The external magnetic field induces the aggregation of Fe3O4 MNPs within the LVs, resulting in the formation of an asymmetrical structure that promotes the catalytic reaction of hydrogen peroxide, producing oxygen to propel the movement of Fe3O4@LVs micromotors. The magnetic-fuel dual drive enables the Fe3O4@LVs micromotor to move 1.3 times faster than the LVs alone. Additionally, the magnetic field offers the advantage of controlling the direction of motor movement and facilitating retrieval for practical applications. This dual drive micromotor exhibits exceptional stability and reusability in aqueous solutions, underscoring its immense potential for future applications.

Adsorption of fast green dye onto Fe3O4 MNPs and GO/Fe3O4 MNPs synthesized by photo-irradiation method: Isotherms, thermodynamics, kinetics, and reuse studies

In this study, the adsorption of Fast Green dye (FGD) on the surface of ferrous ferric oxide Fe3O4 MNPs and Graphene oxide Nano-Sheets/ferrous ferric oxide GO/Fe3O4 MNPs as adsorbents was examined. The photo-irradiation method was successfully used to synthesize Fe3O4 MNPs and GO/Fe3O4 MNPs using UV lamp. Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize the GO and GO/ Fe3O4 MNPs. XRD, FESEM, and EDX were used to characterize the Fe3O4 MNPs and GO/ Fe3O4 MNPs. Optimal adsorption conditions were studied, including a contact time of 60 min, MNPs amount of 0.05 g, pH 2, FGD concentration of 10 mg/L, and temperature of 308 K. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models were used to fit the experimental equilibrium data at five different temperatures (288, 298, 308, 318, and 328 K). It was noticed that FGD adsorption on Fe3O4 MNPs and GO/ Fe3O4 MNPs is consistent with the Freundlich model at 308 K. The PSO rate kinetics suggests that both MNPs are promising materials for the removal of FGD from aqueous solutions. Thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption processes are non-spontaneous on both MNPs surfaces, endothermic for Fe3O4 MNPs, and exothermic for GO/ Fe3O4 MNPs. All the results confirm that Fe3O4 MNPs and GO/ Fe3O4 MNPs have the potential to be efficient, low-cost, reusable, and stable adsorbents for the removal of FGD from aqueous solutions.

Remediation of diesel contaminated soil by using activated persulfate with Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles: effect and mechanisms.

In this study, Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs) were assessed for their ability to enhance the activity of persulfate (PS). Various controlling factors including PS dosages, initial pH, water-soil ratio, ratio of Fe2+, and Fe3O4 MNPs to PS were considered in both the Fe2+/PS system and the Fe3O4 MNPs/PS system. Results showed that the Fe3O4 MNP-activated PS system exhibited high processing efficiency owing to the gradual release of Fe2+. This process occurred in a wide pH range (5-11), attributed to the synergistic action of sulfate radicals (SO4-·) and hydroxyl radicals (OH·) under alkaline conditions, effectively mitigating soil acidification. The ratio of Fe3O4 MNPs to PS and water-soil ratio significantly influenced the degradation rate with the highest petroleum hydrocarbon degradation rate exceeding 80% (82.31%). This rate was 3.1% higher than that achieved by the Fe2+/PS system under specific conditions: PS dosage of 0.05 mol/L, Fe3O4 MNPs to PS ratio of 1:10, water-soil ratio of 2:1, and initial pH of 11. Meanwhile, oxidant consumption in the Fe3O4 MNPs/PS system was halved compared to the Fe2+/PS system due to the slow release of Fe2+ and less ineffective consumption of SO4-·. Mechanistically, the possible degradation process was divided into three parts: the initial chain reaction, the proliferating chain reaction, and the terminating chain reaction. The introduction of Fe3O4 MNPs accelerated the degradation rate of pentadecane, heneicosane, eicosane, tritetracontane, and 9-methylnonadecane.

Synthesis, physico-chemical properties, and AC induction heating of polycaprolactone-coated bio-compatible Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Ex-situ functionalization of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, synthesized using a coprecipitation method, with bio-compatible polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer is reported in this study. The formation of the crystalline structure of Fe3O4 is confirmed from the X-ray diffraction patterns. The presence of the PCL polymer on the surface of the coated MNPs is confirmed using Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques and thermogravimetric analysis. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy imaging studies reveal the nearly spherical morphology of the synthesized nanoparticles. Room temperature magnetization measurements show the superparamagnetic nature of the PCL coated nanoparticles with high saturation magnetizations varying from ∼61–66 emu/g. Further, the room temperature coercivity is found to be reduced by ∼78 % for the PCL coated nanoparticles, which is attributed to the lowering of the interparticle interactions upon surface functionalization. Magnetic fluid hyperthermia studies on the PCL coated nanoparticles dispersed in ∼1 wt% agar gel shows significant alternating magnetic field induced heating efficiency, with temperature rise in the vicinity of the hyperthermia limit (∼42 °C). The highest specific absorption rate is found to be ∼85.4 ± 3.9 W/gFe, indicating an intrinsic loss power of ∼0.62 nHm2kg−1, which is significantly higher than the previously reported values for PCL coated Fe3O4 MNPs. The field induced heating efficiency is found to be correlated with the saturation magnetization of the PCL coated nanoparticles. In vitro cytotoxicity studies on human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines confirm the superior bio-compatibility of the PCL coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Superior field induced heating efficiency, coupled with good bio-compatibility makes the PCL functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles a potential candidate for magnetic fluid hyperthermia.

Distinguishing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from methicillin-sensitive strains by combining Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle-based affinity mass spectrometry with a machine learning strategy

Pathogenic bacteria, including drug-resistant variants such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), can cause severe infections in the human body. Early detection of MRSA is essential for clinical diagnosis and proper treatment, considering the distinct therapeutic strategies for methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and MRSA infections. However, the similarities between MRSA and MSSA properties present a challenge in promptly and accurately distinguishing between them. This work introduces an approach to differentiate MRSA from MSSA utilizing matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) in conjunction with a neural network-based classification model. Four distinct strains of S. aureus were utilized, comprising three MSSA strains and one MRSA strain. The classification accuracy of our model ranges from ~ 92 to ~ 97% for each strain. We used deep SHapley Additive exPlanations to reveal the unique feature peaks for each bacterial strain. Furthermore, Fe3O4 MNPs were used as affinity probes for sample enrichment to eliminate the overnight culture and reduce the time in sample preparation. The limit of detection of the MNP-based affinity approach toward S. aureus combined with our machine learning strategy was as low as ~ 8 × 103 CFU mL−1. The feasibility of using the current approach for the identification of S. aureus in juice samples was also demonstrated.Graphical

Induction heating of magnetic nanoparticles: role of thermo-physical properties of the coating moieties

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are utilized for magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH)-based cancer therapeutics, where the MNPs are surface functionalized to impart desired stability and biological properties. In this study, the MFH properties of palmitic (PA) and stearic (SA) acid-coated superparamagnetic Fe3O4 MNPs, with similar sizes (∼ 10 ± 0.8 nm, and ∼ 11 ± 0.7 nm, respectively), and saturation magnetizations (∼ 40.8 emu/g, and ∼ 41 emu/g, respectively), are systematically probed to understand the role of the thermo-physical properties of the coating moieties on the MFH efficiency. PA and SA-coated MNPs are prepared using a one-step microwave-assisted co-precipitation technique, and the presence of the surface coatings is confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses. Magneto-calorimetric studies show a high induction heating efficiency, surpassing the threshold of MFH for a biologically relevant field-frequency range. The maximum heating efficiencies are found to be ∼ 164.5 ± 5.4 W/gFe and ∼ 223.9 ± 6.4 W/gFe for the PA and SA-coated MNPs, respectively. This indicates ∼ 36.1 % higher specific absorption rate (SAR) for the SA-coated MNPs under similar experimental conditions, even though the magneto-structural properties are identical for the PA and SA-coated MNPs. Further, finite element modelling is utilized to investigate the thermal transport from the magnetic core to the surrounding medium, where the thermo-physical properties of the coating moieties are considered. Finite element simulations indicate ∼ 32.6 % higher SAR for the SA-coated MNPs, which is consistent with the experimental findings. The higher SAR for the SA-coated MNPs is attributed to the ∼ 1.7 times higher thermal diffusivity of SA. The proposed model is experimentally validated using a third system consisting of lauric acid-coated Fe3O4 MNPs with comparable magneto-structural properties. Further, significant temperature rise in a tissue-equivalent agar medium and good bio-compatibility, as indicated by the in vitro cyto-toxicity studies, make the prepared MNPs potential candidates for MFH applications. The obtained results provide deeper insight into the role of the thermo-physical properties of the coating moieties on the induction heating efficiency of superparamagnetic MNPs.

A magnetic cross-linked alginate-biobased nanocomposite with anticancer and hyperthermia activities

This research study focuses on a new magnetic nanobiocomposite designed and synthesized by the formation of cross-linked alginate (Alg) hydrogel using CaCl2 cross-linker agent, its modification with flaxseed mucilage hydrogel and silk fibroin (SF) biopolymer extracted, and as well, the in-situ synthesis of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs) in the presence of this biopolymeric substrate. FT-IR, EDX, FE-SEM, XRD, VSM, and TG technical analyses clarified the physical and chemical features of magnetic cross-linked Alg/flaxseed mucilage hydrogel/SF nanobiocomposite. Following the structural characterization of this magnetic natural-based composition, the in-vitro cytotoxicity and hemolysis assay studies with different concentrations resulted in prominent biological outcomes. The survival rates of normal HEK293T cells (95.74%, 94.18%) and breast cancer BT549 cells (79.23%, 77.76%) after 48 and 72 h verified the biocompatibility and anticancer properties of this new nanobiocomposite. Also, less than 5% of the hemolytic effect disclosed its hemocompatibility. Furthermore, a high specific absorption rate value (72.42 W/g) is generated by 1 mg/mL of this magnetic nanobiocomposite. Overall, it can be deduced that magnetic responsive cross-linked Alg/flaxseed mucilage hydrogel/SF nanobiocomposite could functionally perform in magnetic hyperthermia treatment.

Recyclable and Environmentally Friendly Magnetic Nanoparticles with Aggregation-Induced Emission Photosensitizer for Sustainable Bacterial Inactivation in Water.

Bacterial photodynamic inactivation based on the combined actions of photosensitizers, light, and oxygen presents a promising alternative for eliminating bacteria compared to conventional water disinfection methods. However, a significant challenge in this approach is the inability to retrieve photosensitizers after phototreatment, posing potential adverse environmental impacts. Additionally, conventional photosensitizers often exhibit limited photostability and photodynamic efficiency. This study addresses these challenges by employing an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizer, iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs), and Pluronic F127 to fabricate AIE magnetic nanoparticles (AIE MNPs). AIE MNPs not only exhibit fluorescence imaging capabilities and superior photosensitizing ability but also demonstrate broad-spectrum bactericidal activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The controlled release of TPA-Py-PhMe and magnetic characteristics of the AIE MNPs facilitate reuse and recycling for multiple cycles of bacterial inactivation in water. Our findings contribute valuable insights into developing environmentally friendly disinfectants, emphasizing the full potential of AIE photosensitizers in photodynamic inactivation beyond biomedical applications.

Chlorpyrifos and diazinon elimination through pAAm-g-XG/HKUST-1@Fe3O4 biopolymer nanoadsorbent hydrogel from wastewater: Preparation, characterization, kinetics and isotherm

In this study, a MOF-functionalized biopolymer nanoadsorbent hydrogel was developed to effectively eliminate chlorpyrifos (CPF) and diazinon (DZ) from aquatic areas. The adsorbent system was prepared through a multi-step process, such as graft copolymer preparation of xanthan gum (XG) with acrylamide (Aam) and cross-linking with N,N'-Methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) to obtain (pAAm-g-XG), synthesis of Fe3O4 MNPs through ex-situ co-precipitation method, and covalent attachment onto the pAAm-g-XG. Finally, in-situ HKUST-1 was attached to pAAm-g-XG@Fe3O4 to obtain the pAAm-g-XG/HKUST-1@Fe3O4 biopolymer nanocomposite hydrogel. They are characterized by a variety of characteristic methods for example, FTIR, VSM, SEM, TGA, EDX, XRD, and BET confirmed the adequate preparation of pAAm-g-XG/HKUST-1@Fe3O4 biopolymer nanocomposite hydrogel. CPF and DZ, both organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), were studied for their removal from aqueous solutions using the developed adsorbent system. The most efficient adsorption conditions were achieved by doing batch adsorption tests with varying values of solution pH, adsorbent dose, contact duration, and beginning concentrations of CPF and DZ. Additionally, model fitting was excellent for the Freundlich isotherm model, and by using the pAAm-g-XG/HKUST-1@Fe3O4 biopolymer nanocomposite hydrogel, the maximal adsorption capacity of DZ and CPF was achieved about 4525.102 and 1708.735 mg.g−1, consequently. The pseudo-second-order (PSO) model, according to the findings, is an excellent fit for the experimental data in this research on adsorption kinetics. The hypothesized process suggests that intermolecularly by hydrogen bonding, diffusion, and entrapment in the polymeric lattice of biopolymer nanocomposite hydrogel all contribute to the adsorption of CPF and DZ onto the biopolymer nanocomposite hydrogel. The two OPPs under study responded best to regeneration studies lasting up to four cycles.

Preparation of magnetic dialdehyde starch-immobilized phospholipase A1 and acyl transfer in reflection

In this paper, using a coprecipitation method to prepare Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPS), magnetic dialdehyde starch nanoparticles with immobilized phospholipase A1 (MDSNIPLA) were successfully prepared by using green dialdehyde starch (DAS) instead of glutaraldehyde as the crosslinking agent. The Fe3O4 MNPS was characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis method, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) et al. The results showed that the alkaline resistance and acid resistance of the enzyme were improved after the crosslinking of DAS. After repeated use (seven times), the relative activity of MDSNIPLA reached 56 %, and the magnetic dialdehyde starch nanoparticles (MDASN) had good carrier performance. MDSNIPLA was applied to enzymatic hydrolysis of phospholipids in the soybean oil degumming process. The results showed that the acyl transfer rate of sn-2-HPA was 14.01 %, and the content of free fatty acids was 1.144 g/100 g after 2 h reaction at 50 °C and pH 5.0 with appropriate boric acid. The immobilized enzyme has good thermal stability and storage stability, and its application of soybean oil improves the efficiency of the oil.

Design and fabrication of a magnetic nanobiocomposite based on flaxseed mucilage hydrogel and silk fibroin for biomedical and in-vitro hyperthermia applications

In this research work, a magnetic nanobiocomposite is designed and presented based on the extraction of flaxseed mucilage hydrogel, silk fibroin (SF), and Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs). The physiochemical features of magnetic flaxseed mucilage hydrogel/SF nanobiocomposite are evaluated by FT-IR, EDX, FE-SEM, TEM, XRD, VSM, and TG technical analyses. In addition to chemical characterization, given its natural-based composition, the in-vitro cytotoxicity and hemolysis assays are studied and the results are considerable. Following the use of highest concentration of magnetic flaxseed mucilage hydrogel/SF nanobiocomposite (1.75 mg/mL) and the cell viability percentage of two different cell lines including normal HEK293T cells (95.73%, 96.19%) and breast cancer BT549 cells (87.32%, 86.9%) in 2 and 3 days, it can be inferred that this magnetic nanobiocomposite is biocompatible with HEK293T cells and can inhibit the growth of BT549 cell lines. Besides, observing less than 5% of hemolytic effect can confirm its hemocompatibility. Furthermore, the high specific absorption rate value (107.8 W/g) at 200 kHz is generated by a determined concentration of this nanobiocomposite (1 mg/mL). According to these biological assays, this magnetic responsive cytocompatible composite can be contemplated as a high-potent substrate for further biomedical applications like magnetic hyperthermia treatment and tissue engineering.

Biosynthesis of Fe3O4 MNPs from Vicia faba L. peels: promising catalyst for enhanced biogas production from wheat straw

Biosynthesis of Fe3O4 MNPs from Vicia faba L. peels: promising catalyst for enhanced biogas production from wheat straw

A dual-ratio fluorescent probe with a single excitation triple-signal to synchronously detect PTK7 and miRNA-21 for breast cancer early diagnosis

The measurement of tumor biomarker levels is of great significance for early diagnosis of breast cancer. The combination diagnosis of multiple tumor biomarkers will significantly improve the accuracy of early diagnosis. Here, we successfully developed a dual-ratio fluorescent sensing platform for the detection of breast cancer biomarkers (PTK7, miRNA-21) using single excitation triple-signal detection. Introducing three types of fluorescence nanomaterials with narrow emission peaks and long Stokes shift as signal markers, the three peaks (430 nm, 530 nm and 640 nm) of which do not interfere with each other in fluorescence spectra under a single excitation (360 nm). The sensing platform linked aptamer (apt) modified green fluorescence quantum dots (gQDs-apt1) and aptamer modified red fluorescence quantum dots (rQDs-apt2) to Fe3O4-cDNA1 and Fe3O4-cDNA2, respectively, via base complementary pairing with aptamer molecules. When PTK7/miRNA-21 is present in the system, gQDs-apt1/rQDs-apt2 bound to the Fe3O4 MNPs surface will be released to recover fluorescence. Upon DNase I digestion of free apt1 and apt2, the target molecules will be released to bind to gQDs-apt1/rQDs-apt2 for signal amplification. After magnetic separation, PTK7 and miRNA-21 can be quantified using the fluorescence intensity ratio of gQDs with bCDs and rQDs with bCDs at a single excitation of 360 nm wavelength. This method has high sensitivity, good selectivity, and can quantify both PTK7 and miRNA-21 simultaneously with an LOD of 0.426 ng mL-1 and 0.072 nM, respectively. Additionally, the sensing platform was used for serum detection of health man and breast cancer patients with satisfactory results.

Synergistic effect of silver NPs immobilized on Fe3O4@L-proline magnetic nanocomposite toward the photocatalytic degradation of Victoria blue and reduction of organic pollutants.

The surface of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles was subject to modification through the incorporation of L-proline (LP) by simple co-precipitation method in which silver nanoparticles were deposited by in situ method, thereby yielding the Fe3O4@LP-Ag nanocatalyst. The fabricated nanocatalyst was characterized using an array of techniques including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results evince that the immobilization of LP on the Fe3O4 magnetic support facilitated the dispersion and stabilization of Ag NPs. The SPION@LP-Ag nanophotocatalyst exhibited exceptional catalytic efficiency facilitating the reduction of MO, MB, p-NP, p-NA, NB, and CR in the presence of NaBH4. The rate constants obtained from the pseudo-first-order equation were 0.78, 0.41, 0.34, 0.27, 0.45, 0.44, and 0.34 min-1 for CR, p-NP, NB, MB, MO, and p-NA, respectively. Additionally, the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model was deemed the most probable mechanism for catalytic reduction. The novelty of this study lies in the use of L-proline immobilized on Fe3O4 MNPs as a stabilizing agent for the in-situ deposition of silver nanoparticles, resulting in the synthesis of Fe3O4@LP-Ag nanocatalyst. This nanocatalyst exhibits high catalytic efficacy for the reduction of multiple organic pollutants and azo dyes, which can be attributed to the synergistic effects between the magnetic support and the catalytic activity of the silver nanoparticles. The easy recyclability and low cost of the Fe3O4@LP-Ag nanocatalyst further enhance its potential application in environmental remediation.

Mesoporous Fe3O4 nanoparticle: A prospective nano heat generator for thermo-therapeutic cancer treatment modality

In the present work, we have synthesized Fe3O4 MNPs with a mesoporous feature by the solvothermal process. Through iteration of experiments, we found that the specific solvent helped in stabilizing the mesoporous structure. We have used techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) to study the structural features of the sample. The material demonstrated effective heating under an alternating magnetic field (AMF), and the concentration of aqueous ferro-fluid influences the same. The experimental intrinsic loss power (ILP) value of ∼ 5.30 ± 0.25 nHm2kg−1 is suggestively higher than the commercially available ferro-fluids and equivalent to previously reported values for iron oxide MNPs. The material demonstrated an impressive heating performance under near infra-red (NIR) irradiation with a concentration as small as 0.1 mg/mL. The photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy has allowed corroborating the efficient heating behaviour of the material under NIR irradiation. An effective decrease in SiHa cells viability was observed after NIR exposure with concentration of 250 and 500 μg/mL of MNPs. We believe this work will pave a new pathway in the area of biomaterials thermo-therapeutic cancer treatment with improved efficacy via mesoporous structure, efficient heating under NIR exposure and high ILP value.

Silver-assisted reduction of nitroarenes by an Ag-embedded curcumin/melamine-functionalized magnetic nanocatalyst

In the current study, we introduce a hybrid magnetic nanocomposite comprised of curcumin (Cur), iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs), melamine linker (Mel), and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). Initially, a facile in situ route is administrated for preparing the Fe3O4@Cur/Mel-Ag effectual magnetic catalytic system. In addition, the advanced catalytic performance of the nanocomposite to reduce the nitrobenzene (NB) derivatives as hazardous chemical substances were assessed. Nevertheless, a high reaction yield of 98% has been achieved in short reaction times 10 min. Moreover, the Fe3O4@Cur/Mel-Ag magnetic nanocomposite was conveniently collected by an external magnet and recycled 5 times without a noticeable diminish in catalytic performance. Therefore, the prepared magnetic nanocomposite is a privileged substance for NB derivatives reduction since it achieved notable catalytic activity.