Experimental and theoretical investigation on structure, toxicity, and DNA interaction of turmeric-coated cobalt ferrite nanocomposites

A comprehensive investigation was performed on the structural, toxicity, and DNA interaction of the co-precipitated turmeric@CoFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs). In addition to the FT-IR and TGA analyses, the magnetic hysteresis loop of the nanocomposite was simulated using the Monte Carlo method as a new approach to confirm the interaction between the turmeric biomolecules and the surface of NPs. Scanning electron microscopy illustrated the small clusters of NPs with an approximately uniform size distribution. Moreover, the in vivo analyses of the toxicity and histopathological studies on the kidney, liver, and testis tissues in control and treated groups revealed no significant effects on the studied organs. Multi-spectroscopic DNA binding investigations of the NPs were carried out by DNA viscosity, UV-visible, and fluorescence spectroscopies. All the experimental results showed an impressive upsurge in the viscosity of CT-DNA. Besides, fluorimetric investigations by methylene blue and Hoechst 33,258 as fluorescence probes established the intercalative binding nature of the NPs to CT-DNA. The thermodynamic factors (Delta H-degrees>0 and Delta S-degrees > 0) were calculated from the temperature dependence data, designated that hydrophobic forces showed a chief role in the binding of the coated NPs to CT-DNA. This biocompatible nanocomposite has considerable potential for magnetic drug delivery.