Free Radical Formation by the Peroxidase-Like Catalytic Activity of MFe2O4 (M = Fe, Ni and Mn) Nanoparticles

Ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have peroxidase-like activity and thus catalyze the decomposition of H2O2-producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Increasingly important applications of these ferrite MNPs in biology and medicine require that their morphological, physicochemical, and magnetic properties need to be strictly controlled. Usually, the tuning of their magnetic properties is achieved by the replacement of Fe by other 3d metals, such as Mn or Ni. Here, we studied the catalytic activity of ferrite MNPs (MFe2O4, M = Fe2+/Fe3+, Ni, and Mn) with the mean diameter ranging from 10 to 12 nm. Peroxidase-like activity was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) using the spin-trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide at different pHs (4.8 and 7.4) and temperatures (25 and 40 °C). We identified an enhanced amount of hydroxyl (•OH) and perhydroxyl (•OOH) radicals for all samples, compared to a blank solution. Quantitative studies show that [•OH] is the dominant radical formed for Fe3O4, which is ...