4-Aminobenzoic Acid-Coated Maghemite Nanoparticles as Potential Anticancer Drug Magnetic Carriers: A Case Study on Highly Cytotoxic Cisplatin-Like Complexes Involving 7-Azaindoles

This study describes a one-pot synthesis of superparamagnetic maghemite-based 4-aminobenzoic acid-coated spherical core-shell nanoparticles ([email protected]) as suitable nanocomposites potentially usable as magnetic carriers for drug delivery. The [email protected] system was subsequently functionalized by the activated species (1* and 2*) of highly in vitro cytotoxic cis-[PtCl₂(3Claza)₂] (1; 3Claza stands for 3-chloro-7-azaindole) or cis-[PtCl₂(5Braza)₂] (2; 5Braza stands for 5-bromo-7-azaindole), which were prepared by a silver(I) ion assisted dechlorination of the parent dichlorido complexes. The products 1*@[email protected] and 2*@[email protected], as well as an intermediate [email protected], were characterized by a combination of various techniques, such as Mössbauer, FTIR and EDS spectroscopy, thermal analysis, SEM and TEM. The results showed that the products consist of well-dispersed maghemite-based nanoparticles of 13 nm average size that represent an easily obtainable system for delivery of highly cytotoxic cisplatin-like complexes in oncological practice. View Full-Text