IRON OXIDE NANOPARTICLES FOR HIPERTHERMIA
Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4, SPIONs) are promising candidates for several biomedical applications such as magnetic hyperthermia and as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Organic incorporation in liposomes (magnetoliposomes) and inorganic encapsulation with silica are interesting possibilities. However, their colloidal stability in physiological conditions hinders their application requiring the use of biocompatible surfactant agents. Aiming at the design and development of new nanoparticles for enhanced theranostic techniques, namely for magnetic resonance imaging and for directed drug delivery, silica-based matrices were prepared and decorated with SPIONs . Good saturation of magnetization values for the specific size and morphology of the synthesized SPIONs were achieved for samples dried in vacuum at RT (∼64 emu/g), comparable with the literature results (∼60 emu/g). These results contribute to achieve a compromise between the use of oleic acid as a stabilizer of iron oxide colloids and its influence on their biomedical application.