Naproxen release from carbon dot coated magnetite nanohybrid as versatile theranostics for HeLa cancer cells

Nanohybrid magnetite carbon dots (Fe(3)O(4)@CDs) were successfully synthesized to improve their applicability in multi-response bioimaging. The nanohybrid was prepared via pyrolysis and further loaded with naproxen (NAP) to promote drug delivery features. The characterization of the synthesized Fe(3)O(4)@CDs demonstrated the existence of Fe(3)O(4) crystals by matching with JCPDS 75-0033 and its narrow size distribution at 11.30 nm; further, FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of Fe–O groups, C–O stretching, C–H sp(2), and C–O bending, along with dual-active fluorescence and magnetic responses. The nanohybrids also exhibit particular properties such as a maximum wavelength of 230.5 nm, maximum emission in the 320–420 nm range, and slight superparamagnetic reduction (Fe(3)O(4): 0.93620 emu per g; Fe(3)O(4)@CDs: 0.64784 emu per g). The cytotoxicity assessment of the nanohybrid revealed an excellent half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of 17 671.5 ± 1742.6 μg mL(−1). Then, the incorporation of NAP decreased the cell viability to below 10%. The kinetic release properties of NAP are also confirmed as pH-dependent, and they follow the Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetics model. These results indicated that the proposed Fe(3)O(4)@CDs can be used as a new model for theranostic treatment.