Synthesis and Characterization of Core–Shell Magnetic Nanoparticles NiFe2O4@Au

Diana Saykova,Elena Belova,Ruslan Ivantsov,Yuri Mikhlin,Marina Panteleeva,Svetlana Saikova

doi:10.3390/met10081075

Diana Saykova, Elena Belova + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/met10081075

Copy DOI

Abstract

In this study, NiFe2O4@Au core–shell nanoparticles were prepared by the direct reduction of gold on the magnetic surface using amino acid methionine as a reducer and a stabilizing agent simultaneously. The obtained nanoparticles after three steps of gold deposition had an average size of about 120 nm. The analysis of particles was performed by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy techniques. The results indicate successful synthesis of core–shell particles with the magnetic core, which consists of a few agglomerated nickel ferrite crystals with an average size 25.2 ± 2.0 nm, and the thick gold shell consists of fused Au0 nanoparticles (NPs). Magnetic properties of the obtained nanoparticles were examined with magnetic circular dichroism. It was shown that the magnetic behavior of NiFe2O4@Au NPs is typical for superparamagnetic NPs and corresponds to that for NiFe2O4 NPs without a gold shell. The results indicate the successful synthesis of core–shell particles with the magnetic nickel ferrite core and thick gold shell, and open the potential for the application of the investigated hybrid nanoparticles in hyperthermia, targeted drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging, or cell separation. The developed synthesis strategy can be extended to other metal ferrites and iron oxides.

Highlights

Reducing cancer mortality and increasing the success of cancer treatment begin with early diagnosis
An oscillating magnetic field can be applied so that magnetic nanoparticles interact with this field to generate heat and destroy cancer cells
The aim of the study was to provide a reliable synthetic strategy to obtain hybrid nanoparticles based on nickel ferrite nanoparticles with a continuous gold shell and to characterize the products by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)

Summary

Introduction

Reducing cancer mortality and increasing the success of cancer treatment begin with early diagnosis. Most early tumors do not produce any symptoms and are difficult to detect. Nanoparticles (NPs) with useful optical or magnetic properties are increasingly being used as a detective tool to spot tumors when they first develop [1,2]. An oscillating magnetic field can be applied so that magnetic nanoparticles interact with this field to generate heat and destroy cancer cells (the so-called hyperthermia). The temperature range from 40 ◦ C to 46 ◦ C can deactivate cancer cells without damaging healthy tissues. This process can be carried out under the influence of optical radiation (optical hyperthermia) or a high-frequency magnetic field (magnetic hyperthermia).

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion