Nickel ferrite nanoparticles have garnered significant interest for their applications in medical diagnosis and targeted drug delivery due to their unique magnetic and structural properties. In this study, we present a green synthesis approach utilizing Annona muricata extract to prepare nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles, emphasizing an eco-friendly solution to overcome the limitations of conventional chemical synthesis methods. Using a sol–gel auto-combustion technique, we synthesized cerium-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles and characterized them thoroughly to evaluate their structural, optical, magnetic, and anti-cancer properties. The characterization results showed that the nanoparticles formed a cubic spinel structure with reduced crystallite sizes and altered lattice parameters. The synthesized nanoparticles displayed agglomerated spherical morphology with high phase purity. The cerium doping caused changes in binding energies, which enhanced the magnetic properties, including increased saturation magnetization and reduced coercivity. Additionally, the anti-cancer efficacy of the nanoparticles was confirmed through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay results, showing dose-dependent cytotoxicity against Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) breast cancer cells. These findings suggest promising applications in targeted drug delivery and cancer therapy, highlighting the potential of cerium-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles as an effective material for biomedical use.
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