Efficient Green Synthesis of (Fe 3 O 4 ) and (NiFe 2 O 4 ) Nanoparticles Using Star Anise ( Illicium verum ) Extract and Their Biomedical Activity against Some Cancer Cells.

Magnetite Fe 3 O 4 and spinel (2:1) and (4:1) NiFe 2 O 4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were prepared by simple and affordable co-precipitation methods using an extract of star anise ( Illicium verum ) as a green reducing agent. The morphology and chemical composition of these MNPs were confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The synthesized magnetite Fe 3 O 4 and spinel (2:1) and (4:1) NiFe 2 O 4 MNPs were in the size range of 0.1-1 µm. The MNPs had irregular clustered platelets (magnetite Fe 3 O 4 ) and pyramidal structures (spinel (2:1) and (4:1) NiFe 2 O 4 NPs). The average sizes of the synthesized magnetite Fe 3 O 4 , and spinel (2:1) and (4:1) NiFe 2 O 4 MNPs calculated using XRD analysis were 66.8, 72.5, and 72.9 nm, respectively. In addition to the characteristic absorption peaks of magnetite Fe 3 O 4 , those of spinel (2:1) and (4:1) NiFe 2 O 4 MNPs were detected at ~300-350 nm and ~700 nm, respectively. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the synthesized magnetite Fe 3 O 4 , and spinel (2:1) and (4:1) NiFe 2 O 4 MNPs showed high biomedical activities against liver carcinoma cells and non-small lung adenocarcinoma cells.