Targeting Colorectal Cancer Using Krantz Aloe (Aloe arborescens) Extract Green Synthesised Chromium Doped Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticles

In this contribution, the characteristics and anticancer activity of chromium (Cr) doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, of the form Fe²⁺(Fe³⁺_0.95Cr³⁺_0.05)₂O₄, with 0 < x < 0.05 is discussed. The Cr-doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized using the green synthesis method, employing extract derived from the Krantz aloe (Aloe arborescens) plant that is indigenous to Southern Africa. For comparison, undoped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were also prepared in a similar fashion, as to study the impact of the Cr doping on the impact of the compounds’ anticancer activities. Characterization, done using x-ray diffraction (XRD), confirmed the nanoparticles’ purity and crystalline nature. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) gives particle sizes of 18 ± 1 nm and 6 ± 1 nm for the Fe₃O₄ and Cr-doped Fe₃O₄, respectively. Magnetic characterization indicates the ferrimagnetic behaviour of the particles. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is used to probe the bonding environment of the ions. The results of cell viability assays proves that the green synthesized Fe₃O₄ and Cr-doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles exhibited anticancer activity when tested against colorectal adenocarcinoma (DLD-1) cells; as well as the ability to destroy more cancerous cells compared to healthy human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells. Present results indicate that the Cr-doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were smaller in size and showed enhanced anticancer activity when compared to the undoped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles.