Green synthesis of spinel copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) nanoparticles and their toxicity

Abstract

In this study, magnetic spinel copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) nanostructures were eco-friendly synthesized using Nasturtium officinale extract. Physicochemical properties of these nanostructures were determined by transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry, and energy dispersive X-ray mapping analysis. XRD patterns conform to the CuFe2O4 formation. SEM results demonstrated ceramic spinel CuFe2O4 nanostructures with spherical surface morphologies. The cytotoxicity effect of CuFe2O4 nanostructures against rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells was evaluated based on MTT assay. The magnetic nanostructures had low toxicity at a concentration of 250 µg/mL. It appears that these nanostructures can be considered as suitable candidates for drug delivery and other biomedical applications, because of their low toxicity effects.

Keywords

• magnetic ceramic ferrites
• copper ferrite nanostructures
• cytotoxicity evaluation
• green chemistry
• plant extracts