The surface charge of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) plays a critical role in the interactions between nanoparticles and biological components, which significantly affects their toxicity in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we synthesized three differently charged IONPs (negative, neutral, and positive) based on catechol-derived dopamine, polyethylene glycol, carboxylic acid, and amine groups, via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer-mediated polymerization (RAFT polymerization) and ligand exchange. The zeta potentials of the negative, neutral, and positive IONPs were −39, −0.6, and +32 mV, respectively, and all three IONPs showed long-term colloidal stability for three months in an aqueous solution without agglomeration. The cytotoxicity of the IONPs was studied by analyzing cell viability and morphological alteration in three human cell lines, A549, Huh-7, and SH-SY5Y. Neither IONP caused significant cellular damage in any of the three cell lines. Furthermore, the IONPs showed no acute toxicity in BALB/c mice, in hematological and histological analyses. These results indicate that our charged IONPs, having high colloidal stability and biocompatibility, are viable for bio-applications.

Charge-Modulated Synthesis of Highly Stable Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for In Vitro and In Vivo Toxicity Evaluation.

Cr3+ substituted aluminum cobalt ferrite nanoparticles: influence of cation distribution on structural and magnetic properties

The number of cancer patients is rapidly increasing worldwide. Among the leading causes of human death, cancer can be regarded as one of the major threats to humans. Although many new cancer treatment procedures such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical methods are nowadays being developed and used for testing purposes, results show limited efficiency and high toxicity, even if they have the potential to damage cancer cells in the process. In contrast, magnetic hyperthermia is a field that originated from the use of magnetic nanomaterials, which, due to their magnetic properties and other characteristics, are used in many clinical trials as one of the solutions for cancer treatment. Magnetic nanomaterials can increase the temperature of nanoparticles located in tumor tissue by applying an alternating magnetic field. A very simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly method is the fabrication of various types of functional nanostructures by adding magnetic additives to the spinning solution in the electrospinning process, which can overcome the limitations of this challenging treatment process. Here, we review recently developed electrospun magnetic nanofiber mats and magnetic nanomaterials that support magnetic hyperthermia therapy, targeted drug delivery, diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and techniques for cancer treatment.

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Electrospun Magnetic Nanofiber Mats for Magnetic Hyperthermia in Cancer Treatment Applications—Technology, Mechanism, and Materials

Abstract Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) are more and more used in biomedical applications such as therapy (treatment for certain cancers, hyperthermia), diagnostic (contrast agent for Magnetic Resonance Imaging) or both. For these applications, SPIONs must be stable in an aqueous solution, monodisperse, with a narrow size distribution and without aggregation. To obtain these nanoparticles, a microwave process is carried out in this study as an easy, fast and reproducible synthesis method. Currently, in the literature, most synthesis of SPIONs are in ultra-pure water or another solvent. To consider the use of SPIONs in biomedical applications, it is essential to ensure the preservation of the physico-chemical parameters of the nanoparticles in the physiological medium to validate a synthesis process. With this objective, this study reports a comparison between the SPIONs synthesis in ultra-pure water and the SPIONs direct synthesis in a physiological serum (containing NaCl). To complete this comparison, the dispersion of SPIONs in physiological serum after an elaboration in ultra-pure water is reported. Characterizations of these different SPIONs samples are carried out to determine the physico-chemical parameters and magnetic properties. SPIONs are characterized by Transmission Electronic Microscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering, X-Ray Diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. Finally, to check if SPIONs can be used as contrast agent for MRI, a relaxometry measurement is performed.

Rapid microwave synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles in physiological serum

This study is an attempt to produce gadolinium-doped iron oxide nanoparticles for the purpose of utilization in magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH). Six gadolinium-doped iron oxide samples with varying gadolinium contents (GdxFe3−xO4,x=0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.1) were prepared using the hydrothermal method at 180 °C and high vapor pressure to incorporate gadolinium ions in the iron oxide structure. The samples were indexed as GdIO/x, with x varying from 0.0 to 0.1. The results reveal that gadolinium ions have a low solubility limit in the iron oxide lattice (x = 0.04). The addition of gadolinium caused distortion in the produced maghemite phase and formation of other phases. Based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), it was observed that gadolinium mostly crystalized as gadolinium hydroxide, Gd (OH)3 for gadolinium concentrations above the solubility limit. The measured magnetization values are consistent with the formed phases. The saturation magnetization values for all gadolinium-doped samples are lower than the undoped sample. The specific absorption rate (SAR) for the pure iron oxide samples was measured. Sample GdIO/0.04, pure iron oxide doped with gadolinium, showed the highest potential to produce heat at a frequency of 198 kHz. Therefore, the sample is considered to hold great promise as an MFH agent.

Adel Abdel-Sattar

Papers

Magnetic Properties and SAR for Gadolinium-Doped Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Prepared by Hydrothermal Method