Wet chemical mediated hematite α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles synthesis: Preparation, characterization and anticancer activity against human metastatic ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most common gynecologic cancer incidence in female and the surgery in the major treatment option for OC which makes difficult for survival of OC patients. Recently, nanotechnology has been developed with exceptional growth in research and applications for last decade and afford hope with more advantages for cancer. In the present study, the wet-chemical synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles was confirmed with absorption spectra and the bandgap of Fe2O3 nanoparticles revealed the hematite nature of the nanoparticles. The microscopic and spectroscopic analysis of the nanoparticles showed irregular shape, monocrystalline nature and hematite phase of nanoparticles. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of Fe2O3 nanoparticles showed excellent activity and increased the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), damage the mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis against human metastatic OC PA-1 cells. Together, the present study suggests that the hematite α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles can be used for the treatment of human metastatic ovarian cancer. [Display omitted] •The hematite α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles was prepared using chemical method.•Fe2O3 nanoparticles has irregular shape with monocrystalline in nature.•Fe2O3 nanoparticles showed excellent cytotoxic activity against ovarian cancer.•Increase the ROS generation and damage the mitochondrial membrane of cancer cells.•Induce caspase mediated early and late apoptosis in ovarian cancer PA-1 cells.