Biosynthesis of core- shell ferrite-gold nanoparticles using Mentha aquatic plant extract and its application for 6-mercaptopurine drug delivery

In this research work, core- shell ferrite-gold nanoparticles were synthesized by biosynthesis in two steps. In the first step, iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by biosynthesis using Mentha aquatic plant extract. The gold shell was then synthesized using gold salt as the precursor on the iron nanoparticles. Synthetic nanoparticles were identified using scanning electron microscopy, visible-ultraviolet spectroscopy, elemental analysis and dynamic light scattering. The presence of the absorbance peak at the wavelength of 529 nm and also the presence of gold, iron and oxygen elements of the elemental analysis confirms purity of the synthesized nanoparticles. The size of the synthetic nanoparticles was determined about 30 nm using X-ray diffraction. Result shows after loading of drug at surface nanoparticle the size of nanoparticles increased from 20 nm to 120 nm that confirm loading process of anticancer drug. In addition, DLS data confirm the stability of system for 20 days. Subsequently, the synthetic nanoparticles were used as carriers for 6-mercaptopurine, and results confirm their ability to load the drug high. IC50 = 4.1 μg / ml was determined for the drug transported by nanoparticles using MCF7 cell line. On the other hand, the toxicity of this drug on the nanoparticles was investigated.