Ferromagnetic Cytocompatible Glass‐Ceramic Porous Microspheres for Magnetic Hyperthermia Applications

Highly porous, ferromagnetic glass‐ceramic P40‐Fe3O4 microspheres (125–212 µm) with enhanced cytocompatibility have been manufactured for the first time via a facile, rapid, single‐stage flame spheroidization process. Dispersions of Fe3O4 and Ca2Fe2O5 domains (≈10 µm) embedded within P40 (40P2O5‐16CaO‐24MgO‐20Na2O in mol%) phosphate‐based glass matrices show evidence for remanent magnetization (0.2 Am2 kg−1) and provide for controlled induction heating to a constant level of 41.9 °C, making these materials highly appropriate for localized magnetic hyperthermia applications. Complementary, cytocompatibility investigations confirm the suitability of P40‐Fe3O4 porous microspheres for biomedical applications. It is suggested that the flame‐spheroidization process opens up new opportunities for the development of innovative synergistic biomaterials, toward bone‐tissue regenerative applications. A mixture of Fe3O4 feedstock powders and phosphate‐based glass has been used for the rapid manufacture of highly porous magnetic microspheres via a flame spheroidization process. Morphological, structural, chemical, and magnetic investigations have provided comprehensive insight into the material properties. Accordingly, induction heating and cell‐culture investigations have demonstrated suitability of these materials for potential magnetic hyperthermia‐based applications.