Intensive analysis of uncoated and surface modified Co-Zn nanoferrite as a heat generator in magnetic fluid hyperthermia applications

This article describes structural, morphological, magnetic, and hyperthermia studies of uncoated and polyethylene glycol (PEG) coated zinc substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles. The zinc-substituted cobalt nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation method and the surface of particles coated by PEG showed enhanced the properties from uncoated nanoparticles. Rietveld refined XRD pattern revealed the formation of cubic spinel structure with Fd-3 m space group. The crystallite size obtained using the Scherrer formula from the XRD pattern and W-H method was found to be highly similar. Raman spectroscopy result suggests the confirmation of spinel phase of prepared sample from the investigation of vibration modes with the help of best-fitting procedure. FTIR study reveals the PEG perfectly coated on prepared nanoparticles which is confirmed by the presence of absorption bands in FTIR spectra. The average particle size calculated from the TEM image was found to be 31 nm which is in good agreement with the crystallite size obtained from XRD. The hydrophilic nature of coated nanoparticles was confirmed from contact angle measurement. The M-H curve and M-T plot revealed the prepared nanoparticles have superparamagnetic nature. The uncoated and coated Co-Zn nanoparticles were dispersed in water base fluid for the magnetic induction heating study. The magnetic hyperthermia application was successfully studied by an induction heating system. The specific absorption rate (SAR) depended on the concentration of nanoparticles and coated nanoparticles show superior SAR values as compared to uncoated nanoparticles. This study concluded that prepared nanoparticles are a promising material for magnetic hyperthermia application for cancer treatment.