Synthesis, Characterization and Biocompatibility of Potassium Ferrite Nanoparticles

In the present study, morphology, size distribution, structure, biocompatibility and magnetic properties of potassium ferrite nanoparticles (KFeO2 NPs), synthesized by conventional sol–gel method have been reported. The formation of spherical nanoparticles with orthorhombic structure has been confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The particle size, as obtained by transmission electron microscopy has been found to be in the range of 4–7 nm. Further, the size distribution has been scrutinized using Analyse-it software, where a platykurtic feature in the size distribution was observed. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis showed the formation of metal (Fe, K) bonds at Neel temperature of 337 °C. Vibrating sample magnetometer analysis revealed the superparamagnetic behaviour of the synthesized KFeO2 NPs, with saturation magnetization of 25.72 emu/g. In vitro cytotoxicity test, using MTT assay, on T cell lines (Jurkat cells) showed that KFeO2 NPs are biocompatible at a particle concentration of 100 μg/ml.