Synthesis, characterisation and potential biomedical applications of magnetic core–shell structures: carbon‐, dextran‐, SiO ₂ ‐ and ZnO‐coated Fe ₃ O ₄ nanoparticles

Abstract

Due to the strong effect of nanoparticles' size and surface properties on cellular uptake and bio-distribution, the selection of coating material for magnetic core-shell nanoparticles (CSNPs) is very important. In this study, the effects of four different biocompatible coating materials on the physical properties of Fe 3 O 4 (magnetite) nanoparticles (NPs) for different biomedical applications are investigated and compared. In this regard, magnetite NPs are prepared by a simple co-precipitation method. Then, CSNPs including Fe 3 O 4 as a core and carbon, dextran, ZnO (zincite) and SiO 2 (silica) as different shells are synthesised using simple one-or two-step methods. A comprehensive study is carried out on the prepared samples using X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. According to the authors' findings, it is suggested that carbon-and dextran-coated magnetite NPs with high M s have great potential in the application of magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. Moreover, silica-coated magnetite NPs with high coercivity are potentially suitable candidates for hyperthermia and ZnO-coated Fe 3 O 4 is potentially suitable for photothermal therapy.

Earthicle and Its Discontents: A Historical Critical Review of Iron (Oxide) Particles Singly and Doubly Shelled with Silica and/or Carbon

“…Taking advantage of the fact that Fe 3+ ions are acid-leaching, while Si 4+ ions are base-leaching, the two ions were selectively isolated from a roasted drinking water treatment sludge, otherwise a pollutant for waterbodies, in a study from 2016 and used as precursors for the synthesis of silica-coated iron oxide particles, which would then go on and be tested for the adsorption and separation of other sorbates . A parallel study on carbon- and silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticles from 2018 demonstrated higher specific saturation magnetization values for the former and a higher coercivity for the latter, suggesting their potential in application as MRI contrast agents and hyperthermia agents, respectively . A year later, it was shown that the confinement of iron oxide nanoparticles under a layer of nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon facilitates the adsorption of oxygen onto carbon and reduces the energy of OOH group formation, this rendering carbon a more effective catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction .…”

“…226 A parallel study on carbon-and silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticles from 2018 demonstrated higher specific saturation magnetization values for the former and a higher coercivity for the latter, suggesting their potential in application as MRI contrast agents and hyperthermia agents, respectively. 227 A year later, it was shown that the confinement of iron oxide nanoparticles under a layer of nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon facilitates the adsorption of oxygen onto carbon and reduces the energy of OOH group formation, this rendering carbon a more effective catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction. 228 Another study from 2019 demonstrated a 33% reduction in surfactant adsorption in the porous media due to the use of carbon-coated iron nanoparticles and the potential for use in oil recovery at reservoir conditions.…”