ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

The effect of polyaniline on the magnetic properties of copper–zinc ferrite nanoparticles for use in medical diagnostic/treatment methods (in vitro)

Hamid Hadi, Hamid Reza Shamlouei, and Komeil Jafari

Department of Chemistry, Physical Chemistry Group, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

E-mail: hadi.ha@fs.lu.ac.ir

Received: 23 June 2023  Accepted: 12 August 2024

Abstract:

This work deals with the effect of polyaniline (PANI) coating layer on structural and magnetic properties of copper–zinc ferrite nanoparticles (Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄). For this purpose, Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized by sol–gel method and coated with PANI. Here, it was found that PANI plays an important role in improving the magnetic properties and heating efficiency of Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄. In this regard, the structure of Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanoparticles and Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄/PANI nanocomposite was confirmed by FTIR and XRD analysis. The average size of Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ and Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄/PANI was calculated by transmission electron microscopy to be 21 and 27 nm, respectively. Measurements of magnetic properties by vibrating sample magnetometer confirmed the improvement of superparamagnetic property with negligible coercivity and persistence after adding PANI coating. Also, zero field cooling and field cooling curves showed that the blocking temperature increases significantly after adding PANI coating. Induction heating efficiency of Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanoparticles under alternating magnetic field was studied using specific absorption rate measurement and compared with Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄/PANI nanocomposite. Also, in the cytotoxicity (MTT) analysis (at the recommended concentration of PANI/Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄) on normal breast fibroblasts (MCF-10A) (in vitro), more than 70% of the cells survived. These results showed the application of PANI/Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanocomposite for use in therapeutic/diagnostic methods such as magnetic hyperthermia or magnetic resonance imaging.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: Magnetic nanoparticles; Specific absorption rate (SAR); Superparamagnetic; Magnetic field; Hyperthermia; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-024-03658-1

Chemical Papers 78 (15) 8167–8180 (2024)