Synthesis, physico-chemical properties, and AC induction heating of polycaprolactone-coated bio-compatible Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Abstract

Ex-situ functionalization of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, synthesized using a coprecipitation method, with bio-compatible polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer is reported in this study. The formation of the crystalline structure of Fe3O4 is confirmed from the X-ray diffraction patterns. The presence of the PCL polymer on the surface of the coated MNPs is confirmed using Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques and thermogravimetric analysis. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy imaging studies reveal the nearly spherical morphology of the synthesized nanoparticles. Room temperature magnetization measurements show the superparamagnetic nature of the PCL coated nanoparticles with high saturation magnetizations varying from ∼61–66 emu/g. Further, the room temperature coercivity is found to be reduced by ∼78 % for the PCL coated nanoparticles, which is attributed to the lowering of the interparticle interactions upon surface functionalization. Magnetic fluid hyperthermia studies on the PCL coated nanoparticles dispersed in ∼1 wt% agar gel shows significant alternating magnetic field induced heating efficiency, with temperature rise in the vicinity of the hyperthermia limit (∼42 °C). The highest specific absorption rate is found to be ∼85.4 ± 3.9 W/gFe, indicating an intrinsic loss power of ∼0.62 nHm2kg−1, which is significantly higher than the previously reported values for PCL coated Fe3O4 MNPs. The field induced heating efficiency is found to be correlated with the saturation magnetization of the PCL coated nanoparticles. In vitro cytotoxicity studies on human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines confirm the superior bio-compatibility of the PCL coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Superior field induced heating efficiency, coupled with good bio-compatibility makes the PCL functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles a potential candidate for magnetic fluid hyperthermia.