Superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles for cancer cells treatment via magnetic hyperthermia: effect of natural capping agent, particle size and concentration

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPMNPs) continue to emerge as one of the most potential candidates in biomedical applications. Their multiple functionalities arise from several advantages, such as their responsiveness to external magnetic stimuli, availability, biocompatibility, lack of toxicity, and easier to synthesize. Such MNPs can generate heat when they subjected to an alternating magnetic field, which can be used in tumor treatment if the released heat is as enough as to increase the tumor area temperature the tumor area from physiological temperature of 37 °C to 42–45 °C. In this regard, the size, distribution, magnetic properties of the magnetic nanoparticles play an important role. Thus, the Fe3O4 NPs were synthesized via a simple and inexpensive coprecipitation route with the assistance of natural extracts of Peppermint (P) and Dracocephalum (D) as capping agents. The structural, morphological, and magnetic properties were characterized through the XRD, HRTEM, and vibrating sample magnetometer, respectively.