α‐Fe₂O₃@Ag and Fe₃O₄@Ag Core‐Shell Nanoparticles: Green Synthesis, Magnetic Properties and Cytotoxic Performance

Abstract

Abstract This work provides the synthetic route for the arrangement of Fe 3 O 4 @Ag and α‐Fe 2 O 3 @Ag core‐shell nanoparticles (NPs) with cytotoxic capabilities. The production of Fe 3 O 4 @Ag and α‐Fe 2 O 3 @Ag core‐shell NPs was facilitated utilizing S. persica bark extracts. The results of Powder X‐ray Diffraction (PXRD), Ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐Vis) spectroscopy, Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM), Energy Dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) supported the green synthesis and characterization of Fe 3 O 4 @Ag and α‐Fe 2 O 3 @Ag NPs. The particle size was measured by the TEM analysis to be about 30 and 50 nm, respectively; while the results of FESEM showed that α‐Fe 2 O 3 @Ag and Fe 3 O 4 @Ag particles contained multifaceted particles with a size of 50–60 nm and 20–25 nm, respectively. The outcomes of VSM were indicative of a saturation magnetization of 37 and 0.18 emu/g at room temperature, respectively. The potential cytotoxicity of the synthesized core‐shell nanoparticles towards breast cancer (MCF‐7) and human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVEC) cells was evaluated by an MTT assay. α‐Fe 2 O 3 @Ag NPs were able to destroy 100 % of MCF‐7 cell at doses above 80 μg/mL, and it was confirmed that Fe 3 O 4 @Ag NPs at a volume of 160 μg/mL can destroy 90 % of MCF‐7 cells. Thus, the applicability of the prepared nanoparticles of these nanoparticles in biological and medical fields has been demonstrated.