The freshly prepared magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONPs) were coated with SiO2 and then modified with a Si-based linker (SiL) having chlorine atom at the end of its chain. The resulting chlorine functionalized MIONPs were bonded to chitosan (CT) in trimethylamine solution. Then nevirapine (Nev) drug was loaded into above CT–SiL–MIONPs system and resulting Nev-loaded magnetic nanoparticles, Nev@CT–SiL–MIONPs, studied using different techniques. Furthermore, the value of Nev loading efficiency and also controlled delivery effect of Nev@CT–SiL–MIONP particles was determined by UV–vis spectrometer. Interestingly, the above nanomaterial showed a superparamagnetic property with a saturation magnetization value of 35.66 emu/g, indicating that it has an excellent potential application in the treatment of cancer using magnetic targeting drug delivery technology. Furthermore, the in-vitro antiproliferative activity of Nev@CT–SiL–MIONPs against cancer cell line (Hela) was compared with nevirapine using MTT colourimetric assay. The Nev-loaded magnetic nanoparticles were shown to be more effective antiproliferative on Hela cancer cell lines than nevirapine itself. Moreover, in vitro ct-DNA binding studies were investigated by UV–Vis and competitive fluorescence spectroscopies. The results showed that DNA aggregated on Nev-loaded nanoparticles via groove binding mode.
