Nanomaterials exhibit different interesting physical, chemical, electronic and magnetic properties that can be used in a variety of biomedical applications such as molecular imaging, cancer therapy, biosensing, and targeted drug delivery. Among various types of nanoparticles, super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have emerged as exogenous contrast agents for in vitro and in vivo deep tissue imaging. Here, we propose a facile, rapid, non-toxic, and cost-effective single step green synthesis method to fabricate eugenate (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenolate) capped iron oxide nanoparticles (E-capped IONPs). The magnetic E-capped IONPs are first time synthesized using a medicinal aromatic plant, Pimenta dioica. The Pimenta dioica leaf extract was used as a natural reducing agent for E-capped IONPs synthesis. The crystalline structure and size of the synthesized spherical nanoparticles were confirmed using the x-ray diffraction and electron microscopic images respectively. In addition, the presence of the functional groups, responsible for capping and stabilizing the synthesized nanoparticles, were identified by the Fourier transform infra-red spectrum. These nanoparticles were found to be safe for human cervical cancer (HeLa) and human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cell lines and their safety was established using MTT[3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide] assay. These green synthesized E-capped IONPs display a distinct absorbance in the tissue transparent near-infrared (NIR) wavelength region. This property was used for the NIR photothermal application of E-capped IONPs. The results suggest that these E-capped IONPs could be used for deep tissue photothermal therapy along with its application as an exogenous contrast agent in biomedical imaging.
In recent years, gold nanoparticles have emerged as promising agents for plasmonic sensing, photoacoustic imaging, photothermal therapy, and other biomedical applications. In this work, green synthesis of plant‐mediated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using an aqueous leaf extract of Pimenta dioica was carried out and the synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐Vis) absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra‐red (FTIR) spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. A plausible mechanism of the formation of gold nanoparticles from Pimenta dioica leaf extract was also proposed. Synthesized AuNPs were found to be safe for human cervical cancer (HeLa) and human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cell lines established using MTT (3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiozol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. The potential of the synthesized nanoparticles for the plasmonic sensing of analyte molecule was carried out using the AuNPs as a surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate. It was found that the AuNPs enhanced the Raman signal of analyte molecules with an enhancement factor of >105 in comparison to the normal Raman signal measured from the analyte, i. e., without nanoparticles. Further, the synthesized AuNPs showed excellent photoacoustic signal responses (PASR) and found to be the most efficient photoacoustic signal generators. The photothermal performance of these nanoparticles was also carried out. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that in future, these AuNPs could be used as a green alternative to conventionally used in‐vivo theranostic agents.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.