Articles
Publication Date: 2025
Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces (09277765)255
Synthesis of casein-coated cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CACoFe NPs) using a simple one-pot hydrothermal method and their potential application as a cancer theranostic agent is reported. The colloidal and monodispersed CACoFe NPs represented an average hydrodynamic size of 245.4 nm, a zeta potential of −54.9 mV and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.282. These semi-spherical and crystalline NPs displayed a saturation magnetization of 46.54 emu g−1 and a porous structure with a specific surface area of 118.8 m2 g−1 and total pore volume of 0.3 cm3 g−1. CACoFe NPs served as a nanocarrier for targeted delivery of sunitinib, achieving a high loading capacity of 162 µg mg−1 and cumulative release of 56.44 % over 48 h. MTT assay showed only 12.3 % mortality of MDA-MB-231 cancer cells after 24 h exposure with 200 μg mL−1 CACoFe NPs while 59.9 % and 68.5 % cell death were obtained at the same condition using the bevacizumab functionalized CACoFe NPs (B-CACoFe NPs) and the sunitinib loaded B-CACoFe NPs (S-B-CACoFe NPs), respectively. Apoptosis was confirmed as the primary anticancer mechanism of S-B-CACoFe NPs through real-time PCR, flow cytometry and ELISA studies. The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay demonstrated significant anti-angiogenic effect of S-B-CACoFe NPs. Furthermore, the ability of B-CACoFe NPs to entrap vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was validated in situ and in vivo with entrapment efficiency of 76.5 % and 68.3 %, respectively. Additionally, CACoFe NPs exhibited a high R2 relaxivity value of 81.6 mM−1 S−1 and were successfully used as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of tumor-bearing mice. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
Publication Date: 2025
Scientific Reports (20452322)15(1)
Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have attracted great attention for different environmental applications, mainly due to their magnetic, enzymatic and adsorption properties. In this study, IONPs functionalized with Betula pendula extract (FIONPs) were synthesized by a simple and green method and fully characterized using FE-SEM, EDS, XRD, TGA, DLS, VSM, and FTIR. The monodisperse and colloidal FIONPs represented a crystal structure and spherical shape, an average hydrodynamic size of 118.4 nm with PDI of 0.52 and zeta potential value of -28.4, and also high saturation magnetization value of 45.3 emu g−1. The in vitro studies revealed high biocompatibility of FIONPs on the human cell lines and their potent antibacterial effects on S. aureus and E. coli. FIONPs also displayed high peroxidase-like activity with a specific activity of 0.50 mmol min−1 mg−1. UV-Vis spectroscopy showed more than 99% removal of crystal violet and methylene blue in the batch experiments in the presence of FIONPs, while HPLC analysis revealed more than 98% degradation of antibiotic cefixime and chlorpyrifos pesticide. Degradation mechanism of chlorpyrifos was further studied by LC-MS analysis and biocompatibility of degradation products was evaluated in vitro. The overall results indicated high potential of FIONPs for pollutant removal from water. © The Author(s) 2025.
