abstract
Ferrites have been widely studied for their use in the biomedical area, mostly due to their magnetic properties, which gives them the potential to be used in diagnostics, drug delivery, and in treatment with magnetic hyperthermia, for example. In this work, KFeO2 particles were synthesized with a proteic sol-gel method using powdered coconut water as a precursor; this method is based on the principles of green chemistry. To improve its properties, the base powder obtained was subjected to multiple heat treatments at temperatures between 350 and 1300 degrees C. The samples obtained underwent structural, morphological, biocompatibility, and magnetic characterization. The results show that upon raising the heat treatment temperature, not only is the wanted phase detected, but also the secondary phases. To overcome these secondary phases, several different heat treatments were carried out. Using scanning electron microscopy, grains in the micrometric range were observed. Saturation magnetizations between 15.5 and 24.1 emu/g were observed for the samples containing KFeO2 with an applied field of 50 kOe at 300 K. From cellular compatibility (cytotoxicity) assays, for concentrations up to 5 mg/mL, only the samples treated at 350 degrees C were cytotoxic. However, the samples containing KFeO2, while being biocompatible, had low specific absorption rates (1.55-5.76 W/g).
keywords
RAMAN; HYPERTHERMIA; SIZE
subject category
Chemistry; Materials Science; Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering; Physics
authors
Carvalho, JPF; Vieira, T; Silva, JC; Soares, PIP; Ferreira, NM; Amorim, CO; Teixeira, SS; Graça, MPF
our authors
Carlos Amorim
Assistant Researcher
Nuno Miguel Freitas Ferreira
Post-Doc Fellowshipacknowledgements
This work was funded by national funds (OE), through FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of 29 August, changed by Law 57/2017, of 19 July.