Synthesis, characterization and assessment of anticancer potency of oxcarbazepine with folic acid conjugated Fe2O3 nanostructures as nano-drugs

The well-known chemical drug oxcarbazepine (OXZ) is used to treat partial and secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Because extended-release formulations of antiepileptic drug provide adequate drug delivery, they can help many patients significantly in achieving the main goals of their therapy. To improve the effectiveness of drug administration, OXZ was encapsulated with Fe2O3 nanoparticles (FeNPs) conjugated with folic acid and N-hydroxysuccinimide (FeNPs-FA-NHS-OXZ) in the current work. The nano-drug FeNPs-FA-NHS-OXZ was thoroughly investigated, and its structural and morphological characteristics were confirmed, using a range of sophisticated techniques such as UV–vis spectra, FTIR, DLS, SEM-EDAX, and XRD. X-ray diffraction analyses validated the pure Fe2O3 NPs' hexagonal structure, with an estimated crystallite size of 83 nm. Moreover, the thermograms of FeNPs-FA-NHS-OXZ showed a weight decrease of around 30–40 %, which supported the conjugation of a biomolecule with Fe2O3 NPs. The SEM scans revealed that the morphology of the materials as-prepared showed a combination of hexagonal rod-like shape. The particle size analyzer revealed an observed particle size of 82.2 nm (DLS). Additionally effective for drug delivery are the FeNPs-FA-NHS-OXZ drug loading and drug-releasing capabilities. Additionally, using the SRB test, the cytotoxicity effects of the produced substance were assessed on rat neuroblastoma cell lines. To further investigate the nanodrug's in vivo toxicity, drosophila melanogaster was used in the experiment. When FeNPs-FA-NHS-OXZ was administered to drosophila melanogaster, the results demonstrated little toxicity, as well as enhanced lifespan and reproductive capacity.