Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Biomedical Advances with Positive Environmental Impact

• Grant number: 25/04624-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Paula Silvia Haddad Ferreira
• Grantee: Paula Silvia Haddad Ferreira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Cintia Belen Contreras ; Eliana Maira Agostini Valle Akamatu ; Fabio Furlan Ferreira ; Fernando Luiz Affonso Fonseca ; Lidia Moreira Lima ; Pedro Mendoza Zelis

Abstract

This project proposes developing, characterizing, and applying superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) functionalized with biocompatible molecules, aiming at innovative applications in biomedicine and the environment. The nanoparticles will be designed to promote the controlled release of therapeutic agents triggered by hyperthermia induced by a magnetic field, optimizing therapeutic efficiency, reducing systemic toxicity, and minimizing environmental impact during synthesis and application. The proposal includes obtaining magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, specifically magnetite (Fe¿O¿), through different synthetic routes, including chemical synthesis, such as the coprecipitation of iron salts; physical methods, such as the ball milling technique; and biogenic synthesis, which utilizes microbial enzymes and phytochemicals derived from plants, aligned with the principles of green chemistry. The study will encompass detailed physicochemical characterization and biological evaluation of the obtained nanoparticles.A systematic investigation of synthesis parameters-such as mass ratio, reagent concentration, time and speed of addition, temperature, yield, among others-will be conducted to optimize the properties of the nanoparticles, particularly in terms of biocompatibility, absorption, and dispersion, surpassing the performance of samples reported in the literature. Following the already established research line, this project will advance the functionalization of SPIONs with biocompatible molecules, such as amino acids, mesoporous silicas, smart (responsive) polymers, and drugs or drug candidates with anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and photoactive properties. The central innovation lies in the anchoring of poorly soluble chemotherapeutic drugs, such as doxorubicin (DOX) and paclitaxel (PTX), for the treatment of resistant cancers, including liver, pancreatic, lung, and ovarian cancers, as well as novel tumor-targeted drug candidates for rare diseases such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia. The strategy aims to enhance drug solubility, optimize targeting tumor cells using external magnetic fields, reduce cardiotoxicity, and consequently improve therapeutic efficiency. This will allow lower doses, minimizing side effects, improving patients' quality of life, and reducing environmental impact. Additionally, within biomedical applications, some of these systems will be tested as remotely controlled devices to assess whether the nanomaterial can transduce an external stimulus (magnetic field) into a signal for drug release. The second focus of the project involves evaluating the environmental toxicity of the drug-loaded nanoparticles using the zebrafish animal model, considering the use of lower reagent concentrations. The results obtained are expected to significantly contribute to the advancement of nanotechnology applied to health and the environment, establishing a foundation for future therapeutic and sustainable innovations. (AU)