Exploration of catalytic and cytotoxicity activities of CaxMgxNi1-2xFe2O4 nanoparticles.

The CaxMgxNi1-2xFe2O4 (x ≤ 0.05) nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized hydrothermally. The XRD analyses confirmed the purity of all products and their spherical morphology and compositions were explained by SEM, TEM, EDX and Elemental mapping analyses. Results confirmed the composition of CaxMgxNi1-2xFe2O4. The surface area of them was determined by BET analysis. Results indicated that when x is increased surface area of CaxMgxNi1-2xFe2O4 is decreased as compare with x = 0.0, however, at high composition (x = 0.05), surface area is increased. Catalytic activity of CaxMgxNi1-2xFe2O4 (x ≤ 0.05) NPs was studied for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol as a model compound. Reaction was monitored by UV-spectrophotometer at room temperature and at different times. Among different compositions of CaxMgxNi1-2xFe2O4, it was noticed that x = 0.04 exhibited more activity for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and x = 0.03 was observed least active. Results suggested that CaxMgxNi1-2xFe2O4 could be useful material for catalytic applications. Cytotoxicity activity of CaxMgxNi1-2xFe2O4 (x ≤ 0.05) NPs against HCT116 (Human colon cancer cell line) cell line and MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line) was evaluated by using MTT assay. It was observed that CaxMgxNi1-2xFe2O4 (x ≤ 0.05) NPs exhibited less cytotoxicity. Due to less cytotoxicity, CaxMgxNi1-2xFe2O4 may also be useful in the field of biomedical applications.