Synthesis of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles encapsulated with orange pectin for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers

The current work reports a unique bio-inspired synthesis of orange derived pectin modified magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs). Pectin is a naturally occurring biopolymer containing plethora of polar organofunctions which are exploited in the toxic reagent free modification of biocompatible magnetic NPs and also towards the stabilization of NPs by preventing them from agglomeration. The physicochemical properties of the as-prepared bio-nanocomposite (Fe3O4@Pectin) was analytically investigated through SEM, EDX, TEM, VSM and XRD. The anti-gastrointestinal system cancers and cytotoxic potentials of synthesized NPs against cancer cell lines were assessed. The anti-gastrointestinal system cancers potentials of the NPscould significantly remove (HT-29, HCT 116, Ramos.2G6.4C10, HCT-8 (Colorectal cancer)), (Capan-2, AsPC-1, CFPAC-1, HPAF-II (Pancreatic cancer)), (GC1436, GC1401, AGS, and GC1415 (Gastric cancer)) cell lines by MTT assay. The corresponding IC50 were found as 13, 8, 16, 15, 11, 12, 15, 15, 23, 36, 30, and 23 μg/mL against HT-29, HCT 116, Ramos.2G6.4C10, HCT-8, Capan-2, AsPC-1, CFPAC-1, HPAF-II, GC1436, GC1401, AGS, and GC1415 cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacity of Fe3O4@Pectin NPswas determined by DPPH method which displayeda significant activity as per IC50 value. It is believed that the antioxidant effects play a significant role in the considerable anti-colorectal, pancreatic and gastric cancerseffects.