Preparation, Characterization and Biological Essay of Nanostructured Materials Based on Superparamagnetic Metallic and Bimetallic Nanoparticles

Abstract

The present project is focused on the synthesis, characterization and evaluation of the cytotoxicity of metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) of iron (Fe), gold (Au) and silver (Ag). It will be studied the morphological, structural and magnetic characteristics of these nanosystems obtained by different methods such as coprecipitation of iron salts, thermal decomposition of coordination compounds, reverse micelle and ions reduction. The investigation of the synthesis parameters, as well as the surface is important in the characteristics of the NPs produced to improve the biocompatibility with respect to samples known in the literature, to evaluate the applicability of these particles in biomedicine area. In this project, the aim is to continue the developement the research line that involves the obtaining of metallic Fe NPs and bimetallic such as FeOx-Ag e FeOx-Au NPs with different morphologies and sizes ranging from 4 to 30 nm in solid state. For the syntheses, it is proposed to continue the research line of the proposer using the thermal decomposition method of coordination compounds containing ligands such as acetylacetonate, co-precipitation of iron (III) and (II) salts, reduction of Ag and Au by compounds such as sodium citrate and sodium borohydride, among others. The NPs will be functionalized with a series of hydrophilic and biocompatible molecules, such as amine acids, polymers, functionalized silicas, among others. The structural, morphological and magnetic characterization, the efficiency of functionalization of ligands on NPs surface, measurements of hydrodynamic radius and zeta potential will be carried out using different techniques. The second stage of the project focuses on the use of these systems as carrier vehicles for photoactive molecules, drugs (anti-inflammatories and antibiotics) and molecules that act as antitumor agents. The cytotoxicity of NPs in healthy and tumor cell culture will also be analyzed. (AU)