Cytotoxicity Evaluation and Magnetic Characteristics of Mechano-thermally Synthesized CuNi Nanoparticles for Hyperthermia

CuNi alloys are very well known, both in academia and industry, based on their wide range of applications. In the present investigation, the previously synthesized Cu 0.5 Ni 0.5 nanoparticles (NPs) by mechano-thermal method were studied more extensively. Phase composition and morphology of the samples were studied by employing x-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The Curie temperature ( T c ) was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In vitro cytotoxicity was studied through methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay. XRD and FESEM results indicated the formation of single-phase Cu 0.5 Ni 0.5 . TEM micrographs showed that the mean particle size of powders is 20 nm. DSC results revealed that T c of mechano-thermally synthesized Cu 0.5 Ni 0.5 is 44 °C. The MTT assay results confirmed the viability and proliferation of human bone marrow stem cells in contact with Cu 0.5 Ni 0.5 NPs. In summary, the fabricated particles were demonstrated to have potential in low concentrations for cancer treatment applications.