Usnic Acid-Loaded Magnetite Nanoparticles—A Comparative Study between Synthesis Methods
Since cancer is a continuously increasing concern for the general population, more efficient treatment alternatives ought to be developed. In this regard, a promising direction is represented by the use of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) to act both as a nanocarrier for the targeted release of antitu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/13/5198 |
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| author | Cristina Chircov Alexandra Cătălina Bîrcă Lorena Alexandra Dănciulescu Ionela Andreea Neacșu Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea Roxana-Doina Trușcă Ecaterina Andronescu |
| author_facet | Cristina Chircov Alexandra Cătălina Bîrcă Lorena Alexandra Dănciulescu Ionela Andreea Neacșu Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea Roxana-Doina Trușcă Ecaterina Andronescu |
| author_sort | Cristina Chircov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since cancer is a continuously increasing concern for the general population, more efficient treatment alternatives ought to be developed. In this regard, a promising direction is represented by the use of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) to act both as a nanocarrier for the targeted release of antitumoral drugs and as hyperthermia agents. Thus, the present study focused on improving the control upon the outcome properties of MNPs by using two synthesis methods, namely the co-precipitation and microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, for the incorporation of usnic acid (UA), a natural lichen-derived metabolite with proven anticancer activity. The obtained UA-loaded MNPs were thoroughly characterized regarding their morpho-structural and physicochemical properties through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Results demonstrated the formation of magnetite as the unique mineralogical phase through both types of synthesis, with increased uniformity regarding the drug loading efficiency, size, stability, and magnetic properties obtained through the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the nanostructures against the HEK 293T cell line was investigated through the XTT assay, which further proved their potential for anticancer treatment applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:33:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bd5088b918f343bbaf7ec805d8ec51ff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:33:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-bd5088b918f343bbaf7ec805d8ec51ff2023-11-18T17:09:40ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492023-07-012813519810.3390/molecules28135198Usnic Acid-Loaded Magnetite Nanoparticles—A Comparative Study between Synthesis MethodsCristina Chircov0Alexandra Cătălina Bîrcă1Lorena Alexandra Dănciulescu2Ionela Andreea Neacșu3Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea4Roxana-Doina Trușcă5Ecaterina Andronescu6Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Medical Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, RomaniaNational Research Center for Micro and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, RomaniaSince cancer is a continuously increasing concern for the general population, more efficient treatment alternatives ought to be developed. In this regard, a promising direction is represented by the use of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) to act both as a nanocarrier for the targeted release of antitumoral drugs and as hyperthermia agents. Thus, the present study focused on improving the control upon the outcome properties of MNPs by using two synthesis methods, namely the co-precipitation and microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, for the incorporation of usnic acid (UA), a natural lichen-derived metabolite with proven anticancer activity. The obtained UA-loaded MNPs were thoroughly characterized regarding their morpho-structural and physicochemical properties through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Results demonstrated the formation of magnetite as the unique mineralogical phase through both types of synthesis, with increased uniformity regarding the drug loading efficiency, size, stability, and magnetic properties obtained through the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the nanostructures against the HEK 293T cell line was investigated through the XTT assay, which further proved their potential for anticancer treatment applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/13/5198magnetite nanoparticlesusnic acidanticancerco-precipitationmicrowave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Chircov Alexandra Cătălina Bîrcă Lorena Alexandra Dănciulescu Ionela Andreea Neacșu Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea Roxana-Doina Trușcă Ecaterina Andronescu Usnic Acid-Loaded Magnetite Nanoparticles—A Comparative Study between Synthesis Methods Molecules magnetite nanoparticles usnic acid anticancer co-precipitation microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis |
| title | Usnic Acid-Loaded Magnetite Nanoparticles—A Comparative Study between Synthesis Methods |
| title_full | Usnic Acid-Loaded Magnetite Nanoparticles—A Comparative Study between Synthesis Methods |
| title_fullStr | Usnic Acid-Loaded Magnetite Nanoparticles—A Comparative Study between Synthesis Methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Usnic Acid-Loaded Magnetite Nanoparticles—A Comparative Study between Synthesis Methods |
| title_short | Usnic Acid-Loaded Magnetite Nanoparticles—A Comparative Study between Synthesis Methods |
| title_sort | usnic acid loaded magnetite nanoparticles a comparative study between synthesis methods |
| topic | magnetite nanoparticles usnic acid anticancer co-precipitation microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/13/5198 |
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