Synthesis, Characterization and Cytotoxicity Activities of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Pegylated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Using the Zhumeria Majdae Indigenous to South Iran (Hormozgan)

Nanotechnology has been researched over the past decades for green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles(IONPs); revealing the significance of plant extracts in reducing the iron precursor salt to nanoparticles and their applications in various domains. Zhumeria majdae(Mohre-khosh) is an aromatic herb, belonging to the family Lamiaceae that grows wild just in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran. It has reported that the leaves of Zhumeria majdae contain phytocompounds like flavonoids, diterpenoids and triterpenes. Herein, the leaves of Zhumeria majdae are used for the first time as a reducing agent. Present work emphasized on the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles using Zhumeria majdae leaves for targeted drug delivery for breast cancer. IONPs were characterized and their Cytotoxicity effects were srudied on the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and Human embryonic kidney (Hek293). The use of the metabolic extract of Zhumeria majdae leaf indicated the involvement of phytocompounds in reducing the iron oxides and capping and stabilizing their nanoparticles. Finally, cytotoxicity assay revealed that the obtained IONPs have potential cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell line of MCF-7.