Magnetic Nanostructures for biomedical applications

The use of magnetic nanoparticles in biomedical applications (e.g. hyperthermia agents, contrast agents, biosensors) has attracted a lot of attention in the recent years. Our group has demonstrated in the previous years the conditions that optimize the heating efficiency (hyperthermia applications) and the MRI signal in various magnetic nanoparticles systems. This activity has started during the funded EXCELLENCE project COMANA (Complex Magnetic Nanostructures) (2012-2015) and it goes on. We are going to continue these studies by investigating novel materials that will enhance the heating efficiency and the signal of the ferrofluids. 

1. Novel Fe oxide based nanostructures with high magnetization and anisotropy values for higher heating and MRI performance

Selected Publications 

• Tailoring defects and nanocrystal transformation for optimal heating power in bi-magnetic Co_yFe_1−yO@Co_xFe_3−xO₄ particles, Nanoscale 14 (2022) 382-401
• Vacancy-Driven Noncubic Local Structure and Magnetic Anisotropy Tailoring in Fe_xO−Fe_3−δO₄ Nanocrystals, Phys. Rev. X  9 (2019) 041044

• Susceptibility losses in heating of magnetic core/shell nanoparticles for hyperthermia: a Monte Carlo study of shape and size effects, Nanoscale 7 (2015) 7753
• Assembly-mediated interplay of dipolar interactions and surface spin disorder in colloidal maghemite nanoclusters, Nanoscale 6 (2014) 3764

2. Study of the Effect of organic/inorganic coating on the nanoparticles’ properties

The organic or inorganic surfactant coatings at the surface of magnetic nanoparticles are extensively used in order to provide biocompatibility, low-toxicity, colloidal stability in liquid carriers and to prevent agglomeration. We are studying the physical parameters that are influenced by the presence of organic surfactants at the ferrite nanoparticles’ surface (i.e. the magnetic anisotropies, the magnetic moments and the nanoparticle’s charge). The findings are important for biomedical, industrial and technological applications.

Selected Publications 

• Tuning the magnetic properties of oleic-acid-coated cobalt ferrite nanoparticles by varying the surfactant coverage, Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids 180 (2023) 111424
• Effect of Organic Coating Variation on the Electric and Magnetic Behavior of Ferrite Nanoparticles, ACS Physical Chemistry Au 3 (2023) 532-539
• Magnetism of Nanoparticles: Effect of the Organic Coating, Nanomaterials, 11(7) (2021) 1787  
• Size effects on the magnetic behavior of γ-Fe₂O₃ core/SiO₂ shell nanoparticle assemblies, J. Magn. Magn. Matt. 522 (2021) 167570 
• Effect of albumin mediated clustering on the magnetic behavior of MnFe ₂O₄ nanoparticles: experimental and theoretical modeling study, Nanotechnology 31 (2020) 025707
• Effect of organic coating on the charge distribution of CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles, J. Al. Comp. 796 (2019) 9

• Optimising the magnetic performance of Co ferrite nanoparticles via organic ligand capping, Nanoscale 10 (2018) 21244