Abstract
In the current study, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were synthesized using Ocimum tenuiflorum (OT). The OT leaf extract reduces the ferrous ions to IONPs under microwave irradiation. The biologically synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by Ultraviolet visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis shows that the IONPs were 9–21 nm in diameter. The zeta potential value of IONPs (+ 15.8 mV) indicate the moderate stability in aqueous medium. IONPs demonstrated excellent photocatalytic reduction and 72% methylene blue degradation was observed in 90 min. IONPs exhibited significant antimicrobial efficacy towards bacterial pathogens at dose dependent manner. The cytocompatibility of IONPs was studied against normal and tumor cells. Comparing toxicity of the IONPs to the A549 lung cancer cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages, higher toxicity was recorded for cancer cells indicating potent anticancer and higher biocompatibility towards normal cells.
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•Biosynthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) using Ocimum tenuiflorum extract.•IONPs demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activity towards methylene blue degradation.•IONPs exhibited dose dependent anticancer activity and high biocompatibility towards normal cells.•IONPs demonstrated dose dependent antibacterial activity towards normal cells.