Fabrication of iron oxide nanocolloids using metallosurfactant-based microemulsions: antioxidant activity, cellular, and genotoxicity toward Vitis vinifera

The present work aims at the fabrication of iron oxide nanocolloids using biocompatible microemulsion and their cytotoxic, genotoxic effect on Vitis vinifera plant has been evaluated. The three iron-based metallosurfactant complexes were synthesized. Nanosuspensions (Ns) were prepared using microemulsion technique and for the purpose, the microemulsion was prepared using oleic acid, butanol, tween 80 and as synthesized iron metallosurfactant. In this technique, no additional capping agent and/or reducing agent was added. Tween 80 which is a biocompatible surfactant acted as a reducing agent as well as stabilizing for the iron oxide Ns. Characterization of Ns’s was done using TEM, FESEM, EDX, XRD, AFM, and zeta potential. Mixed type of iron oxide nanoparticles i.e. magnetite (Fe₃O₄), and maghemite (Fe₂O₃) with a size range of 1–16 nm was found to be present in the nanosuspensions prepared from all the three precursors. The antioxidant activity of the Fe Ns was also confirmed using DPPH assay, with order of activity FeDDA > FeCTAC > FeHEXA. The cellular toxicity of Ns was evaluated by observing the morphological changes on V. vinifera plant (petiole) using a light microscope. Further, the interactions of iron oxide Ns with V. vinifera’s DNA (plant-DNA) was assessed using circular dichroism (CD) and gel electrophoresis. For the case of FeCTAC Ns, a decrease in the intensity of bands was observed indicating fragmentation or adduct formation resulting in DNA damage. In the case of FeDDA, a modest decrease in the intensity of bands was observed. However, for FeHEXA Ns, complete neutralization of bands was confirmed implying maximum damage to the plant DNA. CD, gel electrophoresis and antioxidant activity confirmed that FeHEXA Ns were most toxic and FeDDA Ns were safest among the three as-fabricated nanosuspensions.