Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxicity evaluation of a novel magnetic nanocomposite with iron oxide deposited on cellulose nanofibers with nickel (Fe 3 O 4 @NFC@ONSM-Ni).

A heterogeneous, magnetically recoverable nanocomposite, Fe 3 O 4 @NFC@ONSM-Ni(ii) was prepared by immobilization of a novel Ni(ii) Schiff base complex on Fe 3 O 4 @NFC nanoparticles followed by treatment with melamine. This trinuclear catalyst has been characterized using several analytical techniques including FT-IR, TEM, Fe-SEM, EDX, DLS, ICP, TGA, VSM, and XRD. It was used as an efficient catalyst for one-pot solvent-free synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridine and poly-hydro quinoline derivatives through Hantzsch reaction. This catalyst showed remarkable advantage over previously reported catalysts due to suitable conditions, short reaction time, high efficiency and lower catalyst load and timely recovery of the magnetic catalyst. Moreover, the effects of Fe 3 O 4 @NFC@ONSM-Ni(ii) nanoparticles on the in vitro proliferation of human leukemia cell line (k562) and human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) were investigated. The results of MTT and Hochest assays suggested that the nanoparticles could effectively inhibit the proliferation of these cancer cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.