title: A magnetically drivable nanovehicle for curcumin with antioxidant capacity and MRI relaxation properties.
abstract: Curcumin possesses wide-ranging anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties and its biological activity can be linked to its potent antioxidant capacity. Superparamagnetic maghemite (γ-Fe2 O3 ), called surface-active maghemite nanoparticles (SAMNs) were surface-modified with curcumin molecules, due to the presence of under-coordinated Fe(III) atoms on the nanoparticle surface. The so-obtained curcumin-modified SAMNs (SAMN@curcumin) had a mean size of 13±4 nm. SAMN@curcumin was characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, UV/Vis, FTIR, and Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, bulk susceptibility (SQUID), and relaxometry measurements (MRI imaging). The high negative contrast proclivity of SAMN@curcumin to act as potential contrast agent in MRI screenings was also tested. Moreover, the redox properties of bound curcumin were probed by electrochemistry. SAMN@curcumin was studied in the presence of different electroactive molecules, namely hydroquinone, NADH and ferrocyanide, to assess its redox behavior. Finally, SAMN@curcumin was electrochemically probed in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, demonstrating the stability and reactivity of bound curcumin.
authors: Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Safety, Agripolis - University of Padua, Legnaro, 35020 Padua (Italy).
authors: Massimiliano
authors: M
authors: Magro
authors: René
authors: R
authors: Campos
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Baratella
authors: Giuseppina
authors: G
authors: Lima
authors: Katerina
authors: K
authors: Holà
authors: Clemens
authors: C
authors: Divoky
authors: Rudolf
authors: R
authors: Stollberger
authors: Ondrej
authors: O
authors: Malina
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Aparicio
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Zoppellaro
authors: Radek
authors: R
authors: Zbořil
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Vianello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: MRI contrast agents; antioxidants; curcumin; electrocatalysis; magnetic nanoparticles