Characterization and biological applications of CaCO₃@Co_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanoparticles

CaCO₃ coating was applied to the surface of Co_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ (CZF) nanoparticles by chemical co-precipitation method. CaCO₃-coated CZF(CC@CZF) and bare CZF nanoparticles have been characterized by spectroscopy and microscopy techniques. XRD patterns indicate the pure cubic spinel structure of CZF nanoparticles and the growth of CaCO₃ layer on the nanoparticle’s surface. The spherical shape and the size distribution of the nanoparticles were assessed to be ~ 30 nm before coating and ~ 60 nm after surface functionalization and confirmed by the FESEM microscopy technique. The magnetic characteristics of samples were investigated using the vibrating sample magnetometer technique, which revealed a drop in saturation magnetization from 45 to 32 emu/g. So, coated nanoparticles performed effectively as drug transporters under both normal and magnetic field circumstances. Hydrodynamic diameters of CZF nanoparticles are ~ 726 nm and decrease to ~ 370 nm due to the surface functionalization and cause reducing particle aggregation. An MTT test was used to assess the dose-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and viability of normal human skin cells (HSF 1184), which revealed that CC@CZF nanoparticles are less harmful than bare nanoparticles.