Zn and Zr co-doped M-type strontium hexaferrite: Synthesis,characterization and hyperthermia application

In the present study, hard ferromagnetic (M-type strontium hexaferrite) SrFe₁₂O₁₉ was co-doped by Zn and Zr for magnetic hyperthermia applications. As a result of the high concentration of single domain SrFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles (suspended in the ferrofluid), they found a large hydrodynamic diameter, which caused a long-time Brownian relaxation under the AC magnetic field. On the other hand, increasing the Zn-Zr content (low concentration of SrFe₁₂O₁₉) led to a drop in anisotropy, which coincided with a short-time N´eel relaxation. All of the substituted samples with a multi-disperse state in ferrofluid exhibited an almost equal amount of the N´eel and Brownian effects. Consequently, the magnetic saturation (M_s) was considered as the dominant factor in the specific absorption rate (SAR) of the substituted samples. Transformation to the mono-disperse state was followed by the decrease of the Brownian relaxation time and hence the increase of the SAR. The interesting point in mono-disperse state was the heat generation of pure SrFe₁₂O₁₉ under the AC magnetic field as a result of the decrement of the Brownian relaxation time.     

磁性纳米颗粒在生物医学领域中的应用

磁性纳米颗粒作为一种新型纳米材料,在许多领域,特别是在生物医药、生物工程等方面具有广阔的应用前景.本文着重论述了近年来磁性纳米颗粒在生物分离、靶向给药、热疗以及磁共振成像对比剂等方面的应用,并对其应用前景进行了展望.     

Gd substituted NiCa ferrite/poly vinyl alcohol nanocomposite

Magnetic nanocomposite material composed of poly vinyl alcohol encapsulated Ni_0.2Ca_0.8Gd_0.08Fe_1.92O₄ was synthesized by a two step chemical method including sol-gel combustion and solvent casting technique. The obtained samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction; transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results of spectroanalysis pointed towards the existence of a considerably feasible interaction between the polymer chain and the ferrite particles. The dc magnetization measurements divulged that both pristine and the nanocomposite samples under applied magnetic field exhibit no hysteretic behavior at room temperature, symptomatic of the superparamagnetic behavior. The departure of field cooled and zero field cooled curves in the moment-versus-temperature plot further confirmed the room temperature superparamagnetic behavior. The extrapolation of the slope of the curves to M=0 imparted the average value of Curie temperature at ∼323 K (50 °C) for both the samples, suggestive of the efficacy of the material for finding application in self controlled hyperthermia.     

Magnetic induction heating of FeCr nanocrystalline alloys

In this work the thermal effects of magnetic induction heating in (FeCr)_73.5Si_13.5Cu₁B₉Nb₃ amorphous and nanocrystalline wires were analyzed. A single piece of wire was immersed in a glass capillary filled with water and subjected to an ac magnetic field (frequency, 320 kHz). The initial temperature rise enabled the determination of the effective Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). Maximum SAR values are achieved for those samples displaying high magnetic susceptibility, where the eddy current losses dominate the induction heating behavior. Moreover, the amorphous sample with Curie temperature around room temperature displays characteristic features of self-regulated hyperthermia.     

Ferrite-based magnetic nanofluids used in hyperthermia applications

Magnetic ferrofluids (magnetic nanofluids) have received special attention due to their various biomedical applications such as drug delivery and hyperthermia treatment for cancer. The biological applications impose some special requirements. For example, the well-known iron oxide ferrofluids become undesirable because their iron atoms are poorly distinguishable from those of hemoglobin. A conceivable solution is to use mixed-ferrites (MFe₂O₄ where M=Co, Mn, Ni, Zn) to have a range of magnetic properties. These ferrites have attracted special attention because they save time, and because of their low inherent toxicity, ease of synthesis, physical and chemical stabilities and suitable magnetic properties. Based on the importance of ferrite particles in ferrofluids for hyperthermia treatment, this paper gives a summary on the physical concepts of ferrofluids, hyperthermia principal, magnetic properties and synthesis methods of nanosized ferrites.     

Synthesis and antibody conjugation of magnetic nanoparticles with improved specific power absorption rates for alternating magnetic field cancer therapy

Bionized nanoferrite (BNF) particles with high specific power absorption rates were synthesized in the size range of 20–100 nm by high-pressure homogenization for targeted cancer therapy with alternating magnetic fields. Several strategies were used to conjugate antibodies to the BNF particles. These strategies were compared using an immunoassay to find optimal conditions to reach a high immunoreactivity of the final antibody–particle conjugate.     

Size effects in monodomain magnetite based ferrofluids

Ferrofluids based on two types of hybrid particles Fe₃O₄/β-cyclodextrin were prepared: Using monodomain (below 60 nm) magnetite nanoparticles with (A) non-superparamagnetic (non-SPM) behaviour and (B) with superparamagnetic (SPM) behaviour. We found a strong dependence of the hybrid particles’ magnetic properties on their size and homogeneity. In both types of ferrofluids we observed hyperthermia upon applying an ac electromagnetic field with frequency 40 kHz and amplitude 30 kA/m. The maximal ΔТ upon irradiation with duration of about 12 min for the non-SPM particles was 12 °C, while for the SPM ones it was 3.5 °C.     

Simulating physiological conditions to evaluate nanoparticles for magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) therapy applications

Magnetite nanoparticles with high self-heating capacity and low toxicity characteristics are a promising candidate for cancer hyperthermia treatment. In order to achieve minimum dosage to a patient, magnetic nanoparticles with high heating capacity are needed. In addition, the influence of physiological factors on the heat capacity of a material should be investigated in order to determine the feasibility. In this study, magnetite nanoparticles coated with lauric acid were prepared by co-precipitation of Fe³⁺:Fe²⁺ in a ratio of 2:1, 5:3, 3:2, and 4:3, and the pH was controlled using NaOH. Structural and magnetization characterization by means of X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) revealed that the main species was Fe₃O₄ and further showed that most of the nanoparticles exhibited superparamagnetic properties. All of the magnetic nanoparticles showed a specific absorption rate (SAR) increase that was linear with the magnetic field strength and frequency of the alternating magnetic field. Among all, the magnetic nanoparticles prepared in a 3:2 ratio showed the highest SAR. To further test the influence of physiological factors on the 3:2 ratio magnetic nanoparticles, we simulated the environment with protein (bovine serum albumin, BSA), blood sugar (dextrose), electrolytes (commercial norm-saline) and viscosity (glycerol) to examine the heating capacity under these conditions. Our results showed that the SAR value was unaffected by the protein and blood sugar environments. On the other hand, the SAR value was significantly reduced in the electrolyte environment, due to precipitation and aggregation with sodium ions. For the simulated viscous environment with glycerol, the result showed that the SAR values reduced with increasing glycerol concentration. We have further tested the heating capacity contribution from the Néel mechanism by trapping the magnetic nanoparticles in a solid form of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to eliminate the heating pathway due to a Brownian motion. We measured the heating capability and determined that 47% of the total heat generated by the magnetic nanoparticles was from the Néel mechanism contribution. For evaluating magnetic nanoparticles, this method provides a fast and low cost method for determining qualitative and quantitative information measurement for the effect of physiological interference and could greatly reduce the cost and time by in vitro or animal test.     

Highly sensitive room-temperature method of non-invasive in vivo detection of magnetic nanoparticles

Methods of non-invasive in vivo quantification of magnetic nanoparticles (MP) have been proposed and realized. The methods are based on non-linear MP magnetization at two frequencies and measuring the response at combinatorial frequencies. The first method is developed for real-time study of MP dynamics and their clearance from the blood system of animals. High sensitivity of 3 ng of Fe₃O₄ in 0.1 ml was achieved for MP detection in mice tail veins. The second technique is proposed for MP detection inside animal tissues by an external probe. The proposed methods could essentially widen capabilities of biomedical research which involves magnetic nanoparticles.     

Effect of poly (ethylene glycol) coating on the magnetic and thermal properties of biocompatible magnetic liquids

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of poly(ethylene glycol) surface-active coating on the magnetic and thermal properties of biocompatible magnetic liquids. The data were analyzed using the high-temperature approximation model taking into account polydispersity of a system. Heating ability of the PEG-stabilized magnetic fluids was determined by the calorimetric measurement of specific absorption rate (SAR) at a frequency of 750 kHz and a magnetic field of 0-2 kA/m. MF-Oleate/PEG heating properties were found to be comparable to the ones of MF-Oleate. The PEG shell thus does not seem to effect the thermal characteristics and SAR values and might make the magnetic fluid useful for application in hyperthermia treatment.