RESUMO
In the present study, Fe3 O4 magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by the coprecipitation of Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) ions and used as a nanocarrier for the production of piroctone-olamine-loaded Fe3 O4 nanoparticles (Fe3 O4 @PO NPs). The nanocrystalline structure of the prepared iron oxide species was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction spectroscopy method. Particle size distribution analysis showed that the size of Fe3 O4 @PO NPs was in the range of 5-55 nm. The magnetization curve of Fe3 O4 @PO NPs (with saturation magnetization of 28.2 emu/g) confirmed its ferromagnetic property. Loading of PO on the surface of Fe3 O4 NPs qualitatively verified by Fourier transform infrared spectrum obtained from Fe3 O4 @PO NPs. Cytotoxicity studies on the human fibrosarcoma cell line (HT-1080) revealed higher inhibitory effect of Fe3 O4 @PO NPs (50% cell death [IC50 ] of 8.1 µg/mL) as compared with Fe3 O4 NPs (IC50 of 117.1 µg/mL) and PO (IC50 of 71.2 µg/mL) alone. In the case of human normal fibroblast (Hs68), the viability percentage was found to be 75% in the presence of Fe3 O4 @PO NPs (120 µg/mL). Gelatin zymography showed 17.2% and 34.6% inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in the presence of Fe3 O4 @PO and PO, respectively, at the same concentration of 40 µg/mL, whereas Fe3 O4 NPs did not inhibit MMP-2 at any concentration.