Cytotoxicity Evaluation and Magnetic Characteristics of Mechano-thermally Synthesized CuNi Nanoparticles for Hyperthermia

Abstract

CuNi alloys are very well known, both in academia and industry, based on their wide range of applications. In the present investigation, the previously synthesized Cu 0.5 Ni 0.5 nanoparticles (NPs) by mechano-thermal method were studied more extensively. Phase composition and morphology of the samples were studied by employing x-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The Curie temperature (T c ) was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In vitro cytotoxicity was studied through methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay. XRD and FESEM results indicated the formation of single-phase Cu 0.5 Ni 0.5 . TEM micrographs showed that the mean particle size of powders is 20 nm. DSC results revealed that T c of mechano-thermally synthesized Cu 0.5 Ni 0.5 is 44°C. The MTT assay results confirmed the viability and proliferation of human bone marrow stem cells in contact with Cu 0.5 Ni 0.5 NPs. In summary, the fabricated particles were demonstrated to have potential in low concentrations for cancer treatment applications.

Nanoparticles in biomedical applications

“…Iron nickel (Fe-Ni) nanoparticles have a high Curie temperature and high saturation magnetisation properties and are mainly used as contrast agents for MRI [81]. Copper nickel (Cu-Ni) nanoparticles show good Curie temperatures and magnetic properties with their main use being for magnetic hyperthermia [98][99][100]. Bimetallic nanoparticles such as iron platinum (Fe-Pt) possess unique chemical and magnetic properties such as chemical stability, superparamagnetisation, high Curie temperature, high saturation magnetisation and high X-ray absorption [155][156][157][158].…”

Nanosystems: the use of nanoalloys, metallic, bimetallic, and magnetic nanoparticles in biomedical applications

“…The Curie temperature of these alloys must be carefully monitored this was done by using the phase diagram of Ni-Cu. 43 Amrollahi et al (2015) investigated the use of Cu-Ni alloy nanoparticles for use in hyperthermia treatments. 40 Chatterjee et al (2005) also investigated the use of Cu-Ni nanoparticles with the aim of using them in hyperthermia treatments.…”

“…It was found that it was possible to develop magnetic Ni-Cu nanoparticles with a desired Curie temperature for hyperthermia treatment. 44 Both the Curie temperature and cytotoxicity of these nanoparticles was investigated. The Cu-Ni nanoparticles were produced by both chemical and physical processes.…”

“…40 Chatterjee et al (2005) also investigated the use of Cu-Ni nanoparticles with the aim of using them in hyperthermia treatments. 44 Ferk et al (2014) investigated the magnetic properties of Ni-Cu alloy nanoparticles for the potential use in hyperthermia treatments. In order to ensure biocompatibility the bimetallic alloy was encapsulated in a polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating.…”

“…The most common form of iron oxide used for this is magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) which is a mixed oxide of bi and trivalent iron and thus shows a tendency to oxidise which alters its magnetic properties. [36][37][38][39] Other nanoparticles that have been reported in the literature as potential candidates for hyperthermic treatment agents include nanoalloys such as Cu-Ni [40][41][42][43][44][45] and Fe-Co 46 and nanoparticles of ferrite based systems such as Co-Fe 2 O 4 , [47][48][49] Mn-Fe 2 O 4 , [50][51][52] Ni-Co 2 O 4 53 and Fe-MgO, 54 Among these, NiCo 2 O 4 nanoparticles have been investigated in vitro for possible use in hyperthermia treatment of cervical, breast and skin cancer. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Hyperthermic treatments using iron oxide nanoparticles have been applied, both in vitro and in vivo, for the treatment of breast and brain tumours, with promising results.…”