Open AccessWater-Dispersible and Biocompatible Iron Carbide Nanoparticles with High Specific Absorption Rate
Author(s) -
Alexis Bordet,
Ryan F. Landis,
YiWei Lee,
Gülen Yesilbag Tonga,
Juan M. Asensio,
ChengHsuan Li,
PierFrancesco Fazzini,
Katerina Soulantica,
Vincent M. Rotello,
Bruno Chaudret
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
acs nano
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.554
H-Index - 382
eISSN - 1936-086X
pISSN - 1936-0851
DOI - 10.1021/acsnano.8b05671
Subject(s) - nanoparticle , materials science , magnetic nanoparticles , ferrofluid , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , surface modification , aqueous solution , iron oxide nanoparticles , biocompatibility , colloid , carbide , chemistry , organic chemistry , metallurgy , physics , quantum mechanics , magnetic field , engineering
Magnetic nanoparticles are important tools for biomedicine, where they serve as versatile multifunctional instruments for a wide range of applications. Among these applications, magnetic hyperthermia is of special interest for the destruction of tumors and triggering of drug delivery. However, many applications of magnetic nanoparticles require high-quality magnetic nanoparticles displaying high specific absorption rates (SARs), which remains a challenge today. We report here the functionalization and stabilization in aqueous media of highly magnetic 15 nm iron carbide nanoparticles featuring excellent heating power through magnetic induction. The challenge of achieving water solubility and colloidal stability was addressed by designing and using specific dopamine-based ligands. The resulting nanoparticles were completely stable for several months in water, phosphate, phosphate-buffered saline, and serum-containing media. Iron carbide nanoparticles displayed high SARs in water and viscous media (water/glycerol mixtures), even after extended exposition to water and oxygen (SAR up to 1000 W·g -1 in water at 100 kHz, 47 mT). The cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of iron carbide nanoparticles could be easily tuned and were highly dependent on the chemical structure of the ligands used.