Abstract:
The advancement and development of new paradigms in the field of nanotechnology have facilitated the employment of nanoparticles for biomedical applications. Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (IONPs) have gained immense attention due to their ease of synthesis with desirable size and shape, their magnetic properties, ease of surface modification, and functionalization. The surface-modified IONPs can be employed for medical imaging, diagnostics, targeted drug delivery, biosensing, and separation of biomolecules. This study aimed to synthesize, characterized, and evaluate the biocompatibility properties of IONPs produced by the chemical synthesis method followed by their surface modification with certain polymers (Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), Oleic Acid (OA), Poly Methyl Acrylate (PMA)) which were further functionalized with amine groups. The morphology and topographic analysis of IONPs done by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed IONPs to be spherical and size below 55nm even after surface modification. The elemental composition and bond identification in IONPs was done by Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the presence of Fe, O, and C forming bonds of Fe-O, -OH, and additional bonds (-CH, C=C, -NH) formed in polymer modified IONPs. The crystallization of IONPs was determined by X-Ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD). The comparative biocompatibility evaluation of bare and surface-modified IONPs was performed through DPPH assay, Hemolysis, and MTT assay. IONPs showed less antioxidant potential as compared to natural antioxidants, whereas IONPs exposure to RBCs revealed negligible hemolytic activity with 7-10% cell cytotoxicity at the minimum concentration (0.5 g of IONPs exposure. The so far amine-functionalized IONPs can be further functionalized with specific antibodies, which can be further employed for in vitro diagnostic applications and antibody-specific bio-separation of targeted cells.
