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The sonochemical coprecipitation reaction with moderate ultrasound irradiation in low vacuum environment was used to obtain aqueous colloidal suspensions of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). Synthesized magnetite nanoparticles were conjugated directly by Folic Acid using electrohydraulic discharges as a processing technique before modification of the surface of the nanoparticles. Electrohydraulic discharges were applied in two operational modes with high and low power pulsed direct currents between the electrodes. The physical and chemical properties of the obtained samples were studied using X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS). The investigation has proved an inverse cubic spinel structure of magnetite with Folic Acid attachment to the magnetite surface (mean crystallite diameter in the samples D = 27~29 ? 2 nm by XRD and SAXS). It was found that the processing with electrohydraulic discharges increases the colloidal stability of the Folic acid-magnetite nanoparticle dispersions.

Chemical co-precipitation from ferrous and ferric salts at a 1:1.9 stoichiometric ratio in NH4OH base with ultrasonication (sonolysis) in a low vacuum environment has been used for obtaining colloidal suspensions of Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with citric acid. Before coating, the nanoparticles were processed by electrohydraulic discharges with a high discharge current (several tens of amperes) in a water medium using a pulsed direct current. Magnetite nanoparticles were obtained with an average crystallite diameter D = 25–28 nm as obtained by XRD and particle sizes of 25 nm as measured by small-angle X-ray scattering. Magnetometry showed that all samples were superparamagnetic. The saturation magnetization for the citric acid covered samples after electrohydraulic processing showed higher value (58 emu/g) than for the directly coated samples (50 emu/g). Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed the presence and binding of citric acid to the magnetite surface by chemisorption of carboxylate ions. Hydrodynamic sizes obtained from DLS and zeta potentials were 93 and 115 nm, −26 and −32 mV for the citric acid covered nanoparticles and 226 nm and 21 mV for the bare nanoparticles, respectively. The hydraulic discharge treatment resulted in a higher citric acid coverage and better particle dispersion. The developed method can be used in nanoparticle synthesis for biomedical applications.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have attracted the particular interest of scientists from various disciplines since their obtaining to the present day. The physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of SPIONs-containing magnetic nanofluids, and their applicability in biomedicine, largely depend on the stability of the colloidal system, particle size, size distribution, net magnetic moment, phase composition, and type and properties of stabilizers. Also, in some cases, when using magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical purposes, it is necessary that the stabilizing ligands of nanoparticles should not significantly change the magnetic properties. From this point of view, the preparation of stable colloidal systems containing bare iron oxide nanoparticles (BIONs) in water at physiological pH attracts particular attention and becomes increasingly popular in scientific circles. This study is focused on the development of the synthesis of aqueous suspensions of SPIONs stabilized with various organic molecules (oleic acid [OA] and poly(ethylene glycol) monooleate - with molecular weights 460 and 860) using a modified controlled chemical coprecipitation reaction, as well as stable nanofluids containing BIONs in an aqueous medium at neutral pH (near-physiological). The obtained samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoretic light scattering (ELS), and Vibrating Sample Magnetometry.

In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded magnetic nanofluids on 4T1 mouse tumor epithelial cells and MDA-MB-468 human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using sonochemical coprecipitation by applying electrohydraulic discharge treatment (EHD) in an automated chemical reactor, modified with citric acid and loaded with DOX. The resulting magnetic nanofluids exhibited strong magnetic properties and maintained sedimentation stability in physiological pH conditions. The obtained samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoretic light scattering (ELS), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In vitro studies using the MTT method revealed a synergistic effect of the DOX-loaded citric-acid-modified magnetic nanoparticles on the inhibition of cancer cell growth and proliferation compared to treatment with pure DOX. The combination of the drug and magnetic nanosystem showed promising potential for targeted drug delivery, with the possibility of optimizing the dosage to reduce side-effects and enhance the cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. The nanoparticles’ cytotoxic effects were attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species and the enhancement of DOX-induced apoptosis. The findings suggest a novel approach for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs and reducing their associated side-effects. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of DOX-loaded citric-acid-modified magnetic nanoparticles as a promising strategy in tumor therapy, and provide insights into their synergistic effects.