Magnetite Nanoparticles Dispersed in Hybrid Aerogel for Hyperthermia Application

Magnetite nanoparticles(NPs) have been the subject of much interest by researchers owing to their potential use as magnetic carriers in drug targeting and as a tumor treatment in cases of hyperthermia. However, magnetite nanoparticles with 10 nm in diameter easily aggregate and thus create large secondary particles. To disperse magnetite nanoparticles, this study proposes the infiltration of magnetite nanoparticles into hybrid silica aerogels. The feasible dispersion of magnetite is necessary to target tumor cells and to treat hyperthermia. Magnetite NPs have been synthesized by coprecipitation, hydrothermal and thermal decomposition methods. In particular, monodisperse magnetite NPs are known to be produced by the thermal decomposition of iron oleate. In this study, we thermally decomposed iron acetylacetonate in the presence of oleic acid, oleylamine and 1,2 hexadecanediol. We also attempted to disperse magnetite NPs within a mesoporous aerogels. Methyltriethoxysilicate(MTEOS)-based hybrid silica aerogels were synthesized by a supercritical drying method. To incorporate the magnetite nanoparticles into the hybrid aerogels, we devised two methods: adding the synthesized aerogel into a magnetite precursor solution followed by nucleation and crystal growth within the pores of the aerogels, and the infiltration of magnetite nanoparticles synthesized beforehand into aerogel matrices by immersing the aerogels in a magnetite nanoparticle colloid solution. An analysis using a vibrating sample magnetometer showed that approximately 20% of the magnetite nanoparticles were well dispersed in the aerogels. The composite samples showed that heating under an inductive magnetic field to a temperature of $45^{\circ}C$ is possible.

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