Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytotoxicity of Fe3O4@Ag Hybrid Nanoparticles: Promising Applications in Cancer Treatment

• Published in: Journal of cluster science Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 535 - 547
• Main Authors: Pieretti, Joana C., Rolim, Wallace R., Ferreira, Fabio F., Lombello, Christiane B., Nascimento, Mônica H. M., Seabra, Amedea B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-03-2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aqueous solutions; Biocompatibility; Biomedical materials; Cancer; Capping; Catalysis; Chemical reduction; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cytotoxicity; Fibroblasts; Green tea; Hybrid composites; Hyperthermia; Inorganic Chemistry; Iron oxides; Magnetic fields; Magnetic properties; Nanochemistry; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Original Paper; Oxidation; Physical Chemistry; Reagents; Reducing agents; Silver; Software; Synthesis; Tea; Toxicity; Brazil; United States > US; Hybrid nanoparticles; @Ag NPs; Cytotoxicity; Antitumorigenic; Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles; Silver nanoparticles; Fe; O
• ISSN: 1040-7278; 1572-8862
• DOI: 10.1007/s10876-019-01670-0

Hybrid nanomaterials have been extensively investigated because of the possibility of obtaining multiple functions in one stable entity. The magnetite nanoparticles (Fe
3
O
4
NPs) present unique superparamagnetic properties that enable their application in various fields. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) also stand out in biomedical applications, especially as antitumorigenic and antibacterial agent. The combination of Fe
3
O
4
NPs and Ag NPs in one hybrid nanostructure (Fe
3
O
4
@Ag NPs) represents a promising strategy for targeted biomedical applications. Fe
3
O
4
@Ag NPs can be synthesized through a green route using natural reagents, as both reducing and capping agent, minimizing the nanomaterial toxicity. In this work, Fe
3
O
4
@Ag NPs were synthesized via a green route, and green tea extract was used as the reducing agent of silver ions and capping agent of the obtained Fe
3
O
4
@Ag NPs. The nanoparticles were characterized by several techniques confirming the formation of a hybrid composite consisting of 87.1% of Fe
3
O
4
and 12.9% of Ag, with spherical shape and an average size of 25 nm. The cytotoxicity of Fe
3
O
4
@Ag NPs was verified against both tumoral and non-tumoral cell lines, demonstrating selective cytotoxicity against tumoral cell line, suggesting a biocompatibility of these nanoparticles. Thus, superparamagnetic hybrid Fe
3
O
4
@Ag NPs might find important biomedical applications with targeted antitumorigenic properties.
Graphic Abstract