Engineered Iron-Oxide Based Nanomaterials for Magnetic Hyperthermia

Ferrite nanomaterials are extensively studied for their use in the biomedical field primarily because of their tunable magnetic properties and biocompatibility. The use of magnetic nanomaterials, particularly the iron-based nanoparticles, for hyperthermia treatment is one of the emerging applications. However, there are practical constraints on the overall applicability of pure iron-oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) for hyperthermia treatment. In this regard, doping foreign metal ions in the crystal lattice of pure iron-oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) possessing a spinel or inversespinel structure remains to be the simplest approach for the purpose of improving the desired properties. Doping other metal ions into the iron-oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) causes strain in the crystal lattice and is responsible for engineering the structural properties and magnetic properties. Various elements, such as the rare-earth (RE) metals, especially the lanthanides [Yttrium, Gadolinium and Europium], the transition metals [manganese, cobalt, nickel and zinc], and other metals [gold, silver, calcium, titanium, copper and magnesium] are being investigated for their potential to serve as dopants. The divalent transition metals [manganese, cobalt and nickel] doped ironoxide nanoparticles possess highly improved magnetic properties. Incorporating trivalent ions of lanthanides improves the structural properties, magnetic properties, and dielectric properties of the iron-oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). Moreover, doping with zinc, gold and silver imparts the ion-oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) with antibacterial properties while concurrently tuning their structural properties and magnetic outputs.

Keywords: Doping, Iron-oxide nanoparticles, Lanthanides, Magnetic hyperthermia, Rare-earth metals.