α-Fe₂ O₃ @Ag and Fe₃ O₄ @Ag Core-Shell Nanoparticles: Green Synthesis, Magnetic Properties and Cytotoxic Performance

This work provides the synthetic route for the arrangement of Fe₃ O₄ @Ag and α-Fe₂ O₃ @Ag core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) with cytotoxic capabilities. The production of Fe₃ O₄ @Ag and α-Fe₂ O₃ @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 Fe₃ O₄ @Ag and α-Fe₂ O₃ @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-Fe₂ O₃ @Ag and Fe₃ O₄ @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-Fe₂ O₃ @Ag NPs were able to destroy 100 % of MCF-7 cell at doses above 80 μg/mL, and it was confirmed that Fe₃ O₄ @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.