Synthesis of Magnetic Ferrite Nanoparticles with High Hyperthermia Performance via a Controlled Co-Precipitation Method

Abstract

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) that exhibit high specific loss power (SLP) at lower metal content are highly desirable for hyperthermia applications. The conventional co-precipitation process has been widely employed for the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles. However, their hyperthermia performance is often insufficient, which is considered as the main challenge to the development of practicable cancer treatments. In particular, ferrite MNPs have unique properties, such as a strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy, high coercivity, and moderate saturation magnetization, however their hyperthermia performance needs to be further improved. In this study, cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) and zinc cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (ZnCoFe2O4) were prepared to achieve high SLP values by modifying the conventional co-precipitation method. Our modified method, which allows for precursor material compositions (molar ratio of Fe+3:Fe+2:Co+2/Zn+2 of 3:2:1), is a simple, environmentally friendly, and low temperature process carried out in air at a maximum temperature of 60 °C, without the need for oxidizing or coating agents. The particles produced were characterized using multiple techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis spectroscopy), and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). SLP values of the prepared nanoparticles were carefully evaluated as a function of time, magnetic field strength (30, 40, and 50 kA m−1), and the viscosity of the medium (water and glycerol), and compared to commercial magnetic nanoparticle materials under the same conditions. The cytotoxicity of the prepared nanoparticles by in vitro culture with NIH-3T3 fibroblasts exhibited good cytocompatibility up to 0.5 mg/mL. The safety limit of magnetic field parameters for SLP was tested. It did not exceed the 5 × 109 Am−1 s−1 threshold. A saturation temperature of 45 °C could be achieved. These nanoparticles, with minimal metal content, can ideally be used for in vivo hyperthermia applications, such as cancer treatments.

Mesoporous Cobalt Ferrite Nanosystems Obtained by Surfactant-Assisted Hydrothermal Method: Tuning Morpho-structural and Magnetic Properties via pH-Variation

“…Various preparation methods have been used in order to obtain cobalt ferrite NPs involving co-precipitation [12], thermal decomposition of metal salts in solvents with high boiling temperature [13], sol-gel [14], microemulsions [15], polyols [16], hydrothermal methods [17], combustion [18], sonochemistry [19], and electrochemical methods [20]. Particularly, mesoporous cobalt ferrite structures are very promising as recyclable anti-polluting agents [21], magnetically separable catalysts [22], and targeted drug delivery vehicles [23].…”

Synthesis and properties of composite material CoFe2O4/C

“…Научный интерес к процессам формирования структуры этих материалов обусловлен наличием у них полифункциональных свойств. Шпинели на основе феррита кобальта (II) CoFe2O4 относятся к магнитным материалам [1,2], известно их применение в качестве катализаторов [3][4][5], адсорбентов Al 3+ [6], Zn 2+ [7], электродов литий-ионных источников тока [8,9], топливных элементов [10], в медицинских целях -для адресной доставки лекарств [11]. Процессам водоподготовки с адсорбцией катионов металлов различными сорбентами посвящен ряд работ [6,7,[12][13][14].…”

“…Внимание химиков-технологов в последние годы сосредоточено на изучении возможностей синтеза наноразмерных материалов со структурой шпинели [3,11,15,16]. Данное обстоятельство обусловлено тем, что наноразмерные материалы обладают рядом преимуществ по сравнению с хорошо окристаллизованными поликристаллическими образцами.…”

Obtaining a composite material based on cobalt (II) ferrite for purification of aqueous solutions

“…Oxide systems of ferrites of transition elements, possessing spinelstructure with general formula MFe2O4 (М is a bivalent cation) are one example of materials with multifunctional properties. Of particular interest are ferrites-spinels based on cobalt (II) ferrite CoFe2O4, as these are magnetic materials [1][2][3][4][5][6][7], which can be used as electrodes in lithium-ion batteries [8][9][10], selective sensors [11], absorbants of microvawe radiation [12], adsorbents of metal cations and coloring agents [13][14][15][16][17], catalysts [18][19][20][21], for medical purposes in cancer treatment [22]. Despite many years of research of oxide ferrite systems, the interest for such systems is still very strong.…”

“…In recent years, the amount of researches on the possibilities of synthesis of nanosized materials with spinel structure has increased [4,13,17,22]. As it is known, nanocrystalline materials possess a number of technically important characteristics in comparison with well crystallized polycrystalline samples.…”