New sol-gel-derived magnetic bioactive glass-ceramics containing superparamagnetic hematite nanocrystals for hyperthermia application

Author(s)

Borges, Roger ^[1] ; Mendonca-Ferreira, Leticie ^[1] ; Rettori, Carlos ^{[1, 2]} ; Pereira, Isis S. O. ^[1] ; Baino, Francesco ^[3] ; Marchi, Juliana ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed ABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humans, Ave Estados 5001 Bangu, BR-08210180 Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Fis Gleb Wataghin, Rua Sergio Buarque Holanda 777 Cidade Univ, BR-13083859 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Politecn Torino, Dept Appl Sci & Technol, Corso Duca Abruzzi 24, I-10129 Turin - Italy

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Materials Science & Engineering C-Materials for Biological Applications; v. 120, JAN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Although the three main phases of iron oxide - hematite, maghemite, and magnetite - exhibit superparamagnetic properties at the nanoscale, only maghemite and magnetite phases have been explored in magnetic bioactive glass-ceramics aimed at applications in cancer treatment by hyperthermia. In this work, it is reported for the first time the superparamagnetic properties of hematite nanocrystals grown in a 58S bioactive glass matrix derived from sol-gel synthesis. The glass-ceramics are based on the (100-x)(58SiO(2)-33CaO-9P(2)O(5))-xFe(2)O(3) system (x = 10, 20 and 30 wt%). A thermal treatment leads to the growth of hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) nanocrystals, conferring superparamagnetic properties to the glass-ceramics, which is enough to produce heat under an external alternating magnetic field. Besides, the crystallization does not inhibit materials bioactivity, evidenced by the formation of calcium phosphate onto the glass-ceramic surface upon soaking in simulated body fluid. Moreover, their cytotoxicity is similar to other magnetic bioactive glass-ceramics reported in the literature. Finally, these results suggest that hematite nanocrystals' superparamagnetic properties may be explored in multifunctional glass-ceramics applied in bone cancer treatment by hyperthermia allied to bone regeneration. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/16512-9 - Development of a hydrogel-based delivery system for release of biocompatible glasses ions and drug as support in treatment of bone cancer and subsequent bone regeneration
• Grantee: Juliana Marchi
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants