Exploration of structural and magnetic aspects of biocompatible cobalt ferrite nanoparticles with canted spin configuration and assessment of their selective anti-leukemic efficacy

•Biocompatible cobalt ferrite nanoparticles are prepared by coprecipitation method.•Magnetization does not vary with temperature due to spin canting.•Due to surface effects, redistribution of cations on lattice sites is observed.•Cytotoxicity of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles has been examined against leukemic cell K562.