Study of Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia

Abstract

The structural characteristics, magnetic properties, and processes of magnetic heating in an alternating magnetic field of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) Co_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ (cobalt–zinc ferrite, CZF) are studied to explore the possibilities of their application in medicine, namely, for magnetic hyperthermia treatment (the heating of particles with external alternating magnetic field). CZF magnetic nanoparticles were obtained by coprecipitation using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as a precipitating agent. Based on the data obtained by transmission electron microscopy in the transmission geometry, it is found that CZF magnetic nanoparticles have an almost spherical shape with an average particle size of 13 nm. X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer studies showed that CZF magnetic nanoparticles are single-phase, and their structure corresponds to a cubic spinel structure. The saturation magnetization M_s of CZF nanoparticles is measured at room temperature using a vibrating sample magnetometer. The possibility of heating CZF magnetic nanoparticles with an external alternating magnetic field was studied using an induction heating system. The specific absorption rate is determined by applying an external alternating magnetic field in the range of 167.5 to 335.2 Oe at a fixed frequency of 265 kHz. It is found that the maximum amount of heat (114.98 W/g) is produced at a concentration of 5 mg/L under a field of 335.2 Oe.