Iron nanoparticles from animal blood for cellular imaging and targeted delivery for cancer treatment

Background Iron nanoparticles (INPs) are usually prepared from inorganic sources, but we have prepared it from goat blood using incineration method. These INPs are then coated with chitosan (C) and coupled with folic acid (F) to form bionanocomposite for folate receptors. Methods The bionanocomposite was characterized for its physicochemical properties and cancer cell targeting studies using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Zeta potential analysis, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging analyses. Results The results have shown that the particle size of the INP-CF was found to be 80-300 nm and confirmed the presence of chitosan and folic acid in the bionanocomposite. Cancer and normal mouse embryonic cell line study confirmed the internalization of INP-CF and this phenomenon was also supported by physicochemical studies. Conclusion Thus, nanobiocomposite prepared using natural sources as a raw material will be beneficial compared to commercially available synthetic sources and can be used as receptor targeting agent for cancer treatment. This nanobiocomposite when coupled with substances such as monoclonal antibodies might act as a theranostic nanoagent for cancer therapy in the years to come. General significance The prepared novel nanobiocomposite containing INPs isolated from natural source may be used as multifunctional agent due its paramagnetic property apart from its drug delivery effect. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.