2 research outputs found
Unraveling the Formation Mechanism of Dendritic Fibrous Nanosilica
We
studied the formation mechanism of dendritic fibrous nanosilica
(DFNS) that involves several intriguing dynamical steps. Through electron
microscopy and real-time small-angle X-ray scattering studies, it
has been demonstrated that the structural evolution of bicontinuous
microemulsion droplets (BMDs) and their subsequent coalescence, yielding
nanoreactor template, is responsible for to the formation of complex
DFNS morphology. The role of cosurfactant has been found to be quite
crucial, which allowed the understanding of this intricate mechanism
involving the complex interplay of self-assembly, dynamics of BMDs
formation, and coalescence. The role of BMDs in formation of DFNS
has not been reported so far and the present work allows a deeper
molecular-level understanding of DFNS formation
Size and Chemistry Controlled Cobalt-Ferrite Nanoparticles and Their Anti-proliferative Effect against the MCF‑7 Breast Cancer Cells
Engineering cobalt ferrites for application
in health and biomedical
science poses a challenge in terms of nanoscale morphology with a
controlled size, shape, and thermochemical stability coupled with
controlled properties for biocompatibility. Here, we report a simple
one-step, low temperature approach to produce crystalline, nanosized
cobalt ferrites (CFO) with a size ∼4.7 nm and demonstrate their
applicability in breast cancer treatment. Inherent physiochemical
and magnetic properties, which are quite important for biomedical
applications, along with cytotoxicity of CFO nanoparticles (NPs) are
investigated in detail. X-ray diffraction analyses confirm the cubic
spinel phase with the tensile strain in crystalline CFO NPs. Chemical
bonding analyses using infrared and Raman spectroscopic studies also
support the cubic spinel phase. Electron microscopy and small-angle
X-ray scattering revealed the narrow particle-size distribution and
spherical-shape morphology. The as-synthesized CFO NPs exhibit superparamagnetic
character. Unsaturated magnetization behavior suggests the existence
of disordered spins in the surface layers. The temperature dependence
of the magnetic parameters, namely, saturation magnetization, coercivity,
retentivity, and squareness ratio, also supports the surface-localized
spins. Cytotoxic activity of the as-synthesized CFO NPs against the
human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line and normal human peripheral
blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) has been evaluated. The mild response
of CFO NPs in terms of their antiproliferative nature against cancer
cells and negligible Cytotoxicity reflecting their human-safe-and-friendly
nature makes them suitable for bioapplications. Moreover, assessment
of toxicity toward human red blood cells (RBC) revealed (<3%) hemolysis
as compared to the positive control, suggesting potential applications
of CFO NPs for human cells