Study on the efficiency of nanosized magnetite and mixed ferrites in magnetic hyperthermia

Magnetic materials, which have the potential for application in heating therapy by hyperthermia, were prepared. This alternative treatment is used to eliminate cancer cells. Magnetite, magnesium–calcium ferrites and manganese–calcium ferrites were synthesized by sol–gel method followed by heat treatment at different temperatures for 30 min in air. Materials with superparamagnetic behavior and nanometric sizes were obtained in all the cases. Thus, these nanopowders may be suitable for their use in human tissue. The average sizes were 14 nm for magnetite, 10 nm for both Mg 0.4 Ca 0.6 Fe 2 O 4 and Mg 0.6 Ca 0.4 Fe 2 O 4 and 11 nm for Mn 0.2 Ca 0.8 Fe 2 O 4 . Taking into account that the Mg 0.4 Ca 0.6 Fe 2 O 4 and Mg 0.6 Ca 0.4 Fe 2 O 4 treated at 350 °C showed the lower coercivity values, these nanoparticles were selected for heating tests and cell viability. Heating curves of Mg 0.4 Ca 0.6 Fe 2 O 4 subjected to a magnetic field of 195 kHz and 10 kA/m exhibited a temperature increase up to 45 °C in 15 min. A high human osteosarcoma cell viability of 90–99.5 % was displayed. The human osteosarcoma cell with magnesium–calcium ferrites exposed to a magnetic field revealed a death cell higher than 80 % in all the cases.