Participating Countries:

	COST is supported by the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020
	This website is supported by COST

Helena Gavilán

ICMM – Institute of Material Science of Madrid (CSIC)

Among other functional nanomaterials, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) are especially promising as contrast enhancement agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), drug carriers for disease treatment and heat mediators for cancer treatment by magnetic hyperthermia. Each of these biomedical applications requires MNPs with specific properties, and therefore it is of great importance to be able to control the shape, size and magnetic interaction of MNPs. 

Nowadays, just a few synthesis strategies and coating methods allow the production of single core nanoparticles, by preventing aggregation and minimizing the inter-particle interactions. However not all the size ranges and varieties of shapes are covered by the synthesis of direct magnetic cores.

We present a three-step aqueous approach to obtain Fe3O4 single-core particles based on the synthesis of antiferromagnetic nanoparticles, its coating and subsequent transformation to magnetite. This method has the advantage of the low inter-particle interactions of as-synthesized nanoparticles. In addition, it covers different size ranges and allows obtaining different morphologies that antiferromagnetic materials exhibit. 

This opens up new possibilities and interesting magnetic behaviours. Regarding hyperthermia for cancer treatment, different geometric shape leads to distinct shape anisotropy, resulting in significant              difference in hysteresis loss and Specific Absorption Rates (SAR) values. Recently, Serantes et al. found that the chain-like arrangement biomimicking magnetotactic bacteria could exhibit better heating performance than the randomly distributed system, implying the crucial role of shape anisotropy.

Publication(s) originating from this mission