Design and preparation of amino-functionalized core-shell magnetic nanoparticles for photocatalytic application and investigation of cytotoxicity effects

The goal of the current paper was a synthesis of Amino-functionalized Fe3O4@SiO2 core-shell magnetic nanoparticles as a unique efficient photocatalyst for removing organic dyes from aqueous environments. The magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2 core-shell was produced by a silica source to avoid aggregation by the co-precipitation method. Next, functionalized by using 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) via a post-synthesis link. The chemical structure, magnetic properties, and shape of the manufactured photocatalyst (Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2) were described by XRD, VSM, FT-IR, FESEM, EDAX, and DLS/Zeta potential analyses. The XRD findings approved the successful synthesis of nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity of Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2 nanoparticles was examined for MB degradation and the degradation performance was about 90% in the optimum conditions. Also, the cytotoxicity of Fe3O4, Fe3O4@SiO2 core-shell, and Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2 nanoparticles was examined on CT-26 cells using an MTT assay, the finding has shown that nanoparticles can be used for inhibiting cancer cells.