The study effectively addresses the scalability of PDA NP production, but a few aspects caught my attention:
The proposed mathematical model shows excellent correlation with experimental data. However, the results at 15°C deviate from predictions. Could the authors clarify if the maturity of PDA NPs at this temperature impacts the model’s accuracy, or are there other contributing factors such as solubility variations not captured in the model?
The study highlights differences in Fe³⁺ adsorption capacity based on the type of alcohol used during synthesis. Were any structural analyses, such as porosity or surface functional group density, conducted to confirm how these differences arise?
Given the biomedical focus, the study confirms that PDA NPs synthesized at higher temperatures retain antitumor activity. Could the authors elaborate on whether smaller NPs (e.g., <100 nm) demonstrated superior internalization or biodistribution properties compared to larger counterparts?
The reported antitumor activity and Fe³⁺ adsorption capacities lack sufficient discussion on the underlying mechanisms. For instance, were specific molecular interactions between Fe³⁺ and PDA functional groups characterized to explain the adsorption trends? Moreover, the observed selective cytotoxicity of smaller NPs toward tumor cells could be further elaborated, particularly in relation to their uptake efficiency and intracellular localization.