Cancer cell extinction through a magnetic fluid hyperthermia treatment produced by superparamagnetic Co-Zn ferrite nanoparticles

Cobalt zinc ferrite (CZF) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized by modifying a thermal decomposition method in the presence of triethylene glycol (TEG). Initially structural, morphological, and magnetic characterizations were carried out in order to confirm their size, polydispersity, colloidal stability, and magnetic property. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of triethylene glycol (TEG) on the surface of CZF MNPs. The CZF MNPs has revealed a superparamagnetic nature with high saturation magnetization, good colloidal stability, high specific absorption rate (SAR), excellent biocompatibility, and a monodispersed nature. All these properties are crucial, for their use as a nanomedicine in magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) treatment; which is considered to be one of the most promising cancer therapies. The prepared CZF MNPs are found to be biocompatible with MCF7 (human breast cancer) and L929 (mouse fibroblast) cell lines, when tested by MTT and SRB assays. Cell particle interaction was examined in depth, by using multiple staining techniques coupled with confocal microscopy. Finally, an in vitro hyperthermia experiment was carried out on MCF7 cells, resulting in the extinction of MCF7 cells by up to 80% within 60 min. The nature of the cell extinction was found and lastly reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was assessed, where ROS is the responsible factor for apoptosis. This research demonstrates that, prepared CZF MNPs can be used as a potential candidate for effective MFH treatment for cancer cell extinction.