Design, characterization and green synthesis of samarium-decorated magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles: cytotoxicity and DNA binding studies

In this study, we have successfully synthesized magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles adorned with samarium (Sm-MNPs) utilizing ginger extract for the very first time. Furthermore, a comprehensive characterization of the nanoparticles along with an exploration of their physicochemical attributes was conducted. The biological functionalities of the synthesized nanoparticles were investigated through a thorough examination of their interaction with calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) using diverse spectroscopic techniques encompassing ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and fluorescence spectroscopy at varying temperatures. Subsequently, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of the magnetic nanoparticles using a colorectal cancer cell model (HCT116 cells) and a tetrazolium colorimetric assay (MTT assay). The characterization of the ginger extract-coated magnetic nanoparticles (ginger-Sm-MNPs) revealed their superparamagnetic nature, nanocrystalline structure, spherical morphology, hydrodynamic size of 155 nm, and uniform distribution. The outcomes from UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy affirmed the binding of ginger-Sm-MNPs with ctDNA. Additionally, the MTT assay demonstrated that the cytotoxicity of ginger-Sm-MNPs surpassed that of both magnetite nanoparticles and ginger extract. Notably, the inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for the green-synthesized nanoparticles after 24 and 48 h of incubation were determined as 198.1 and 135.8 mu g/mL, respectively. In conclusion, our study findings suggest the potential utility of ginger-Sm-MNPs as a promising candidate for various biomedical applications.

Automated summary

In this study, magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles adorned with samarium (Sm-MNPs) were successfully synthesized using ginger extract for the first time. The nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized and their biological functionalities were examined. The cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles was evaluated using colorectal cancer cells, and the results showed that the ginger-Sm-MNPs had higher cytotoxicity than both magnetite nanoparticles and ginger extract. The study suggests that ginger-Sm-MNPs have potential applications in biomedicine.