Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro evaluation of magnetite@titanium oxide nanocomposites as delivery systems of antineoplastic drugs

This research presents the synthesis, characterization, and in vitro evaluation of nanocomposites composed of magnetite nanoparticles coated with titanium oxide (Fe 3 O 4 NPs@TiO 2 ). The goal was to explore their potential as controlled release systems of doxorubicin (DOX), a chemotherapeutic drug. The synthesis involved three steps: first, the synthesis of Fe 3 O 4 NPs by chemical co-precipitation; second, the coating of these nanoparticles with titanium oxide; and third, the calcination of samples at different temperatures (300–550 °C) to study the microstructural changes that occur with increasing temperature. The successful preparation of nanocomposites was confirmed through several techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and analysis of selected area electron diffraction (SAED) images using the Digital Micrograph™ software. In addition, in vitro studies were conducted to assess DOX loading, drug release, and cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The results indicated that Fe 3 O 4 NPs@TiO 2 nanocomposites exhibited superparamagnetic properties and were free of impurities above 400 °C. The nanocomposites showed a high loading capacity (1.29 × 10 −1 mg DOX/mg nanocomposite) and efficient drug release in response to pH changes, achieving a release of 46 % at pH 5. Finally, in vitro cytotoxicity assays showed that DOX-loaded Fe 3 O 4 NPs@TiO 2 nanocomposites induced cell death in a concentration-dependent manner, positioning them as promising candidates for targeted cancer therapy. • Superparamagnetic Fe 3 O 4 NPs@TiO 2 nanocomposites. • SAED processing confirmed the formation of anatase TiO 2 at 550 °C onto Fe 3 O 4 NPs. • High doxorubicin loading capacity. • PH-controlled doxorubicin release. • Fe 3 O 4 NPs@TiO 2 -DOX concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells.