Biosynthesis of Zn-doped CuFeO nanoparticles and their cytotoxic activity.

Zn-doped CuFeO nanoparticles (NPs) were eco-friendly synthesized using plant extract. These nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). SEM image showed spherical NPs with size range less than 30 nm. In the EDS diagram, the elements of zinc, copper, iron, and oxygen are shown. The cytotoxicity and anticancer properties of Zn-doped CuFeO NPs were evaluated on macrophage normal cells and A549 lung cancer cells. The cytotoxic effects of Zn-doped CuFeO and CuFeO NPs on A549 cancer cell lines were analyzed. The Zn-doped CuFeO and CuFeO NPs demonstrated IC values 95.8 and 278.4 µg/mL on A549 cancer cell, respectively. Additionally, Zn-doped CuFeO and CuFeO NPs had IC values of 8.31 and 16.1 µg/mL on A549 cancer cell, respectively. Notably, doping Zn on CuFeO NPs displayed better cytotoxic effects on A549 cancer cells compared with the CuFeO NPs alone. Also spinel nanocrystals of Zn-doped CuFeO (~ 13 nm) had a minimum toxicity (CC = 136.6 µg/mL) on macrophages J774 Cell Line.