Magnetic
hyperthermia treatment using calcium phosphate nanoparticles
is an evolutionary choice because of its excellent biocompatibility.
In the present work, Fe3+ is incorporated into HAp nanoparticles
by thermal treatment at various temperatures. Induction heating was
examined within the threshold Hf value of 4.58 ×
106 kA m–1 s–1 (H is
the strength of alternating magnetic field and f is
the operating frequency) and sample concentration of 10 mg/mL. The
temperature-dependent structural modifications are well correlated
with the morphological, surface charge, and magnetic properties. Surface
charge changes from +10 mV to −11 mV upon sintering because
of the diffusion of iron in the HAp lattice. The saturation magnetization
has been achieved by sintering the nanoparticles at 400 and 600 °C,
which has led to the specific absorption rate of 12.2 and 37.2 W/g,
respectively. Achievement of the hyperthermia temperature (42 °C)
within 4 min is significant when compared with the existing magnetic
calcium phosphate nanoparticles. The systematic investigation reveals
that the HAp nanoparticles partially stabilized with FeOOH and biocompatible
α-Fe2O3 exhibit excellent induction heating.
In vitro tests confirmed the samples are highly hemocompatible. The
importance of the present work lies in HAp nanoparticles exhibiting
induction heating without compromising the factors such as Hf value, low sample concentration, and reduced duration
of applied field.
Multifunctional
nanosized particles are very beneficial in the
field of biomedicine. Bioactive and highly biocompatible calcium phosphate
(CaP) nanoparticles (∼50 nm) exhibiting both superparamagnetic
and fluorescence properties were synthesized by incorporating dual
ions (Fe3+ and Sr2+) in HAp (hydroxyapatite)
[Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2]. Insertion
of Fe3+ creates oxygen vacancies at the PO4
3– site, thereby destabilizing the structure. Thus,
in order to maintain the structural stability, Sr2+ has
been incorporated. This incorporation of Sr2+ leads to
an intense emission at 550 nm. HAp nanoparticles when subjected to
thermal treatment (800 °C) transform to β-TCP, exhibiting
emission at 710 nm due to the emergence of an intermediate band. Moreover,
these nanoparticles exhibit fluorescence in visible light when compared
to the other UV and IR fluorescence excitation sources which could
damage the tissues. The synthesis involving the combination of ultrasound
and microwave techniques resulted in the distribution of Fe3+ in the interstitial sites of CaP, which is responsible for the excellent
fluorescent properties. Moreover, thermally treated CaP becomes superparamagnetic,
without affecting the desired optical properties. The bioactive, biocompatible,
magnetic, and fluorescent properties of this resorbable CaP which
is free from toxic heavy metals (Eu, Gd, etc.) could
help in overcoming the long-term cytotoxicity. This could also be
useful in tracking the location of the nanoparticles during drug delivery
and magnetic hyperthermia. The bioactive fluorescent CaP nanoparticle
helps in monitoring the bone growth and in addition, it could be employed
in cell imaging applications. The in vitro MCF-7
imaging using the nanoparticles after 24 h of uptake at 465 nm evidences
the bioimaging capability of the prepared nanoparticles. The reproducibility
of the defect level is essential for the defect-induced emission properties.
The synthesis of nontoxic fluorescent CaP is highly reproducible with
the present synthesis method. Hence, it could be safely employed in
various biomedical applications.
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