Fabrication of Magnetite Nanoparticles as a Potential Photocatalytic Agent with Cytotoxicity Response

Magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles were synthesized using the chemical co-precipitation method and analyzed through XRD, SEM, EDS, and FTIR. The XRD pattern revealed the presence of Fe₃O₄ structural nanocrystals in the iron oxide nanoparticles. SEM images displayed spherical-shaped particles on the surface. EDS spectra indicated the presence of iron and oxygen peaks without impurities. The purity of Fe₃O₄-NPs was confirmed by distinct peaks in the FTIR spectrum. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of Fe₃O₄-NPs was tested against pathogenic bacteria, showing moderate effectiveness against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, suggesting potential applications in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors. The MTT assay indicated strong anticancer properties of the nanoparticles on colon cancer cell lines (HT29) and normal cell lines (L929). Apoptosis was observed through DAPI staining. The nanoparticles demonstrated a 63.78% scavenging ability through DPPH activity. Moreover, the particles showed the ability to degrade carcinogenic dyes, with a reduction in toxicity observed in the brine shrimp lethality assay, indicating promising biomedical applications.