[BMIM]-PF6 ionic liquid mediated polyol synthesis of praseodymium (III) oxide nanoparticles: Physicochemical investigation and its interaction with bacterial and cancer cells

Abstract

Rare earth elements and their oxides are a new and exciting trend with potential applications in biomedicine. The praseodymium oxide (Pr6O11) nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized by a polyol method with the addition of ionic liquids (ILs) as a templating agent. The ILs 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIM-PF6) have been utilized to decrease particle growth by inhibiting nucleation. Ethylene glycol, a well-known polyol, was used as a solvent and stabilizing agent. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) analysis of Pr6O11 (IL-PO) NPs synthesized with the assistance of BMIM-PF6 ILs via polyol approach revealed a high degree of crystallinity with a defined crystalline size of 23 nm and a mean particle size of around 38 +/- 2 nm. IL-PO NPs have outstanding antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria K. pneumoniae (Zone of inhibition-34 mm dia.) and Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus (Zone of inhibition-29 mm dia.). Additionally, it has superior anticancer activity against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. IL-PO NPs have an estimated IC50 of 35.83 mu g/mL, which makes them ideal for use as a therapeutic agent. Based on our findings, we anticipate that IL-PO NPs can be used as an effective anticancer material, particularly in the treatment of MCF-7 breast cancer.