Biopolymer-mediated synthesis of SPION nanoparticles and investigation of their cytotoxicity effects on cervical cancer and normal cell lines

Back ground: Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs; Fe3O4), are attractive nanomaterials with unique capabilities can be used in various biomedical applications. Methods: In this paper, SPIONs were synthesized by a green co-precipitation method in aqueous starch solution. A resazurin reduction assay was used to examine the cytotoxicity effects of SPIONs toward cervical cancer and normal cell lines. Results: Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns indicated that the synthesizedsamples were pure Fe3O4 with a spinel structure, and the coating of starch did not undergo any phase change. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra confirmed the formation of starch coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles. FESEM micrographs illustrated the formation of nanoparticles in the size range of below 25 nm. Magnetic measurements revealed that the saturated magnetization of the starch-SPIONs reached 36.5 emu/g. The non-toxic effect of SPIONs concentration below 50 and 100 μg/ml was observed in the studies of in vitro cytotoxicity on normal and cancerous cell lines, respectively. Conclusion: This study proposes a simple method to fabricate starch-coated SPIONs.Moreover, the dose dependent toxicity of the nanoparticles showed that they are nontoxic and may be suitable for various in vivo and in vitro medical studies.

Keywords:

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) , Starch , In vitro cytotoxicity