Structural, Compositional, and Biological Characterization of Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticles Synthesized by Hydrothermal Method

Abstract

In this research, magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) have been prepared at 200°C for 2 h by hydrothermal method in presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) as a capping agent. Morphological and structural studies carried out by scanning electron microscope (SEM), that results show nanoparticles have been constructed in cubic shape with medium size about 20–30 nm, can produce clusters in 50–200 nm. X-ray diffraction results show that MNPs are in cubic crystal phase. Investigation of thermochemical properties and changing state of Fe2O3 in higher temperature, carried out with analysis of STA (DTA/TGA) that shows MNPs have changed the phase in 280°C and converted to hematite (α-Fe2O3) with rhombohedral crystal phase. Investigation of anticancer properties of nanoparticles show that after 72 h excellent anti-tumor activity against two kinds of cancer cells that are LNCAP (human prostate carcinoma) cells and HeLa (human cervix carcinoma) cells. The results are completely new and provide new views for using of the mentioned compounds in chemotherapy. Antibacterial properties of MNPs also have been studied and good results obtained.