TITLE:
Biomimetically Synthesized Aqueous Ferrofluids Having Antibacterial and Anticancer Properties
AUTHORS:
Lubna Sheikh, Richa Vohra, Anita Kamra Verma, Suprabha Nayar
KEYWORDS:
Collagen Functionalized Ferrofluids (CFFs), Antibacterial, Biomimetics, Cytotoxicity, Anti-Cancer Activity
JOURNAL NAME:
Materials Sciences and Applications,
Vol.6 No.3,
March
17,
2015
ABSTRACT: Synthesis of functional iron oxide nanoparticles, well dispersed in aqueous fluids still remains a
challenge as its stability requires a delicate balance between electrostatic and magnetic interactions.
Templated synthesis using biomolecules is useful because the biomolecules have their
unique arrangement in aqueous systems that enhance stability, commonly called “biomimetic synthesis”.
We have developed a one-pot in-situ, low energy process for the synthesis of highly monodispersed,
Collagen Functionalized Ferrofluids (CFF) as a templating agent in an aqueous medium.
The nanoparticles so obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering
(DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The antibacterial activity in terms
of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and
growth inhibition has been assessed against gram positive, Staphylococcus aureus, ATCC 13709
(native strain) and in Escherichia coli, DH5α gram negative bacteria. The cytotoxicity of the CFFs
on cancer cell lines human embryonic kidney (HEK), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and Ehrlich
ascitic carcinoma (EAC) have also been investigated. CFFs indicated variable MIC and MBC values
against S. aureus and E. coli being minimum for 1.5% CFF (MIC:23.43 μg/ml and 93.75 μg/ml and
MBC: 46.87 μg/ml and 187.5 μg/ml). The observed cytotoxicity in mammalian cells indicated the
susceptibility of MCF-7 breast cancer cells when compared to HEK cells.