Chemical fabrication of superparamagnetic nanoparticles against Leishmania tropica

Due to the diversity of effective applications of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in different bioapplications at a rate exponentially, the procedure of synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles is vital for producing small and stable particles and their successful applications. In this work, we report the synthesis of SPIONs using co-precipitation method based on sodium hydroxide (NaOH) mediated precipitation of Fe 3+ and Fe 2+ salts in an aqueous solution using Trisodium citrate acid as a surfactant within closed system under Nitrogen inert atmosphere. The resulting synthesized SPIONs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and Zeta potential analysis (Zp). TEM and SEM images indicated that the particles are spherical shape of with a size of ≥ 8 nm. XRD pattern showed the presence of peaks corresponding to the phase of magnetite Fe3O4, while the VSM study demonstrated that superparamagnetic properties and the saturation magnetization was around 50 emu/g. The leishmanicidal activity of SPIONs against the promastigote culture of Leishmania tropica was studied with three different concentrations of the nanoparticles in vitro. The results showed that the three concentrations of the nanoparticles could increase parasite mortality rate in time-dose dependent manner. The highest concentration of SPIONs (23.2μg/μl) was more effective compound for inhibiting the parasite growth with mortality rate of 70%. This method has the potential to be a step-change for research into that produced SPIONs can be used as promising antiprotozoal agent.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Leishmania tropica, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, SPIONs, co-precipitation method

Due to the diversity of effective applications of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in different bioapplications at a rate exponentially, the procedure of synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles is vital for producing small and stable particles and their successful applications. In this work, we report the synthesis of SPIONs using co-precipitation method based on sodium hydroxide (NaOH) mediated precipitation of Fe 3+ and Fe 2+ salts in an aqueous solution using Trisodium citrate acid as a surfactant within closed system under Nitrogen inert atmosphere. The resulting synthesized SPIONs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and Zeta potential analysis (Zp). TEM and SEM images indicated that the particles are spherical shape of with a size of ≥ 8 nm. XRD pattern showed the presence of peaks corresponding to the phase of magnetite Fe3O4, while the VSM study demonstrated that superparamagnetic properties and the saturation magnetization was around 50 emu/g. The leishmanicidal activity of SPIONs against the promastigote culture of Leishmania tropica was studied with three different concentrations of the nanoparticles in vitro. The results showed that the three concentrations of the nanoparticles could increase parasite mortality rate in time-dose dependent manner. The highest concentration of SPIONs (23.2μg/μl) was more effective compound for inhibiting the parasite growth with mortality rate of 70%. This method has the potential to be a step-change for research into that produced SPIONs can be used as promising antiprotozoal agent.

Keywords: Leishmania tropica, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, SPIONs, co-precipitation method

Fathallah, A. H., Akbar, H. S. & Al-Deen, F. M. N. (2022). Chemical fabrication of superparamagnetic nanoparticles against Leishmania tropica. Journal of Current Research on Engineering, Science and Technology, 8 (SE), 1-14.