RESUMO
Co-Ni ferrite is one of the crucial materials for the electronic industry. A partial substitution with a rare-earth metal brings about modification in crystal lattice and broadens knowledge in the discovery of new magnetic material. Current work reports a Ga3+ substitution in the Co-Ni ferrite with composition Co0.5Ni0.5Fe2-xGaxO4 (where x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0), herein referred to as spinel ferrite microspheres (CoNiGa-SFMCs). The samples were crystallized hydrothermally showing a hollow sphere morphology. The crystal phase, magnetic, morphology, and optical behaviour were examined using various microscopy and spectroscopic tools. While the XRD confirmed the phase of SFMCs, the crystallite size varied between 9 and 12 nm. The Tauc plot obtained from DRS (diffuse reflectance spectroscopy) shows the direct optical energy bandgap (Eg) of the products, with the pristine reading having the value of 1.41 eV Eg; the band gap increased almost linearly up to 1.62 eV along with rising the Ga3+ amount. The magnetic features, on the other hand, indicated the decrease in coercivity (Hc) as more Ga3+ is introduced. Moreover, there was a gradual increase in both saturation magnetization (Ms) and magnetic moment (nB) with increasing amount of Ga3+ till x = 0.6 and then a progressive decline with increases in the x content; this was ascribed to the spin-glass-like behavior at low temperatures. It was detected that magnetic properties correlate well with crystallite/particle size, cation distribution, and anisotropy.
RESUMO
Tamoxifen (TAM) is a hormonal drug and is mainly used as an anti-estrogen in breast cancer patients. TAM binds to estrogen receptors (ERs), resulting in inhibition of estrogen signaling pathways and thus, a downregulation of cell proliferation. Cancer cells with negative or low ER expression will not uptake TAM and will show low response. Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanoparticles were prepared using surfactant-free emulsion polymerization, then were loaded with Nile red (NR), which resulted in PMMA-NR. To enhance TAM delivery to cervical cancer cells (HELA), which is considered ER-negative, we loaded TAM and polymethyl methacrylate nanoparticles-Nile-red into silica (PMMA-NR-Si-TAM). The uptake and intracellular distribution were visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy, and the in vitro cytotoxic activity was evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) assay using HELA and non-tumorigenic cell line HFF-1. The sensitivity of HELA (LC50: 207.31 µg/mL) and HFF-1 (LC50: 234.08 µg/mL) to free TAM was very low. However, after the encapsulation of TAM with PMMA-NR, the sensitivity significantly increased HELA (LC50: 71.83 µg/mL) and HFF-1 (LC50: 37.36 µg/mL). This indicates that TAM can be used for the treatment of ER-negative cervical cancer once conjugated to PMMA-NR nanoparticles. In addition, the PMMA-NR formulation appears to be highly suitable for cancer imaging and drug delivery.
RESUMO
Nanoformulation involving biocompatible MOFs and magnetic nanocarriers is an emerging multifunctional platform for drug delivery and tumor imaging in targeted cancer therapeutics. In this study, a nanocomposite has been developed comprising Fe/SBA-16 and ZIF-8 (Fe/S-16/ZIF-8) through ultrasonication. The drug delivery of cisplatin was studied using an automated diffusion cell system equipped with a flow type Franz cell. The anticancer activity of Fe/S-16/ZIF-8 was studied in vitro in MCF-7, HeLa cells and Human Foreskin Fibroblast (HFF-1) cells. XRD and d-spacing measurements of Fe/S-16/ZIF-8 using TEM revealed the presence of cubic-structured Fe3O4, γ-Fe2O4 (magnetite), and α-FeOOH (goethite) over an SBA-16/ZIF-8 nanocomposite. The composite showed a surface area of 365 m2 g-1, a pore size of 8.3 nm and a pore volume of 0.33 cm3 g-1. VSM analysis of Fe/S-16/ZIF-8 showed that it possessed paramagnetic behavior with a saturated magnetization value of 2.39 emu g-1. The Fe2+/Fe3+ coordination environment was characterized using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The cisplatin drug delivery study clearly showed the synergistic effects present in Fe/S-16/ZIF-8 with over 75% of cisplatin release as compared to that of Fe/S-16 and ZIF-8, which showed 56% and 7.5%, respectively. The morphology analysis of CP/Fe/SBA-16/ZIF-8 using TEM showed an effective transit of nanoparticles into MCF-7 cells. The lethal concentration (LC50) of Fe/SBA-16/ZIF-8 for MCF-7 and HeLa cells is 0.119 mg mL-1 and 0.028 mg mL-1 at 24 h, respectively. For HFF-1 cells, the LC50 is 0.016 mg mL-1. The antibiofilm activity of Fe/SBA-16/ZIF-8 was investigated against biofilm-forming strains of drug resistant P. aeruginosa and MRSA by a microtiter tissue culture plate assay. Overall, nanosized ZIF-8 with a bioactive alkaloid imidazole inside the 3D cage type of SBA-16 pores is found to exhibit both anticancer and antibacterial properties. A Fe/S-16/ZIF-8 composite could be effectively used as a drug and drug delivery system against cancer and promote antibacterial activity.