Green synthesis of γ-Fe ₂ O ₃ @SiO ₂ magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with penciclovir drug: antiproliferative effect, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) interaction

This study focuses on generating single-phase maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) using Echinophora platyloba DC. (E. platyloba) extract, followed by a silica coating. Subsequently, the γ-Fe2O3@SiO2 magnetic nanoparticles (γ-Fe2O3@SiO2 MNPs) are functionalized with the antiviral drug penciclovir (PNV). The objective of this research is to produce a dual-function therapeutic agent that exhibits both antiviral and anticancer properties. Nanoparticles were characterized using FT-IR, VSM, XRD, TEM, SEM-EDX, DLS, zeta potential measurements, and ultraviolet–visible analysis. The γ-Fe2O3@SiO2-PNV MNPs exhibited lower toxicity towards normal fibroblast cells compared to cancerous MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, loading PNV onto γ-Fe2O3@SiO2 MNPs resulted in a significant increase in the anticancer and biological effects of PNV. To assess the therapeutic potential of γ-Fe2O3@SiO2-PNV MNPs, their interactions with nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) were investigated through absorption and fluorescence studies. The experimental findings showed that γ-Fe2O3@SiO2-PNV MNPs had a strong propensity for binding to nucleic acids both through the groove and intercalate (partial intercalation), indicating their promising candidacy as a targeted and specific chemotherapeutic agent.