Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biogenic synthesis enhanced structural, morphological, magnetic and optical properties of zinc ferrite nanoparticles for moderate hyperthermia applications

  • Research paper
  • Published:
Journal of Nanoparticle Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A biogenic protocol has been adopted for the formulation of zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZFNPs) using an aqueous extract of Allium cepa (AC) as a reducing agent for the optimization of its properties. The various characterization results from XRD, SEM, DRS, Raman, and VSM clearly showed that the formulated ZFNP was a single phase with crystallite size in the range of 11–15 nm. A spherical morphology was observed for all the samples with particle size in the range of 34–52 nm. All the samples showed a superparamagnetic behavior with reduced saturation magnetization. The ZFNPs prepared were used for self-heating analysis in hyperthermia applications at 180 Oe applied field and 425 Hz. It produced enough heating within the therapeutic temperature to attain the Curie temperature. The ZFNP formulated is auspicious for hyperthermia applications with less side effect owing to their biocompatibility, moderate Curie temperature, and SAR value within the therapeutic range. The formulated nanoparticles have further broadened the horizon of hyperthermia therapeutic applications with an innocuous protocol within 300 s.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

References

  • Ahmad M, Yuesuo Y, Ao Q, Adeel M, Hui Z, Rabia J (2019) Appraisal of comparative therapeutic potential of undoped and nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Molecules 24:3916

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aisida SO, Akpa PA, Ahmad I, Zhao T, Maaza M, Ezema FI (2019a) Bio-inspired encapsulation and functionalization of iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications. Eur Polym J 122:109371

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aisida SO, Madubuonu N, Alnasir MH, Ahmad I, Botha S, Maaza M, Ezema FI (2019b) Biogenic synthesis of iron oxide nanorods using Moringa oleifera leaf extract for antibacterial applications. Appl Nanosci 10:305–315

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aisida SO, Ugwoke E, Uwais A, Iroegbu C, Botha S, Ahmad I, Maaza M, Ezema FI (2019c) Incubation period induced biogenic synthesis of PEG enhanced Moringa oleifera silver nanocapsules and its antibacterial activity. J Polym Res 26:225

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aisida SO, Ugwu K, Akpa PA, Nwanya AC, Nwankwo U, Botha SS, Ejikeme PM, Ahmad I, Maaza M, Ezema FI (2019d) Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using bitter leave (Veronica amygdalina) for antibacterial activities. Surf Interface 17:100359

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aisida SO, Akpa PA, Ahmad I, Maaza M, Ezema FI (2019e) Influence of PVA, PVP and PEG doping on the optical, structural, morphological and magnetic properties of zinc ferrite nanoparticles produced by thermal method. Phys B Condens Matter 571:130–136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aisida SO, Ugwu K, Akpa PA, Nwanya AC, Ejikeme PM, Botha SS, Ahmad I, Maaza M, Ezema FI (2019f) Biogenic synthesis and antibacterial activity of controlled silver nanoparticles using an extract of Gongronema latifolium. Mater Chem Phys 237:121859

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andrej O, Rena’ta O, Zuzana OK, Andrea MT, Kupkova M, Monika H, Jozef R, Ro’bert D (2014) Sintered metallic foams for biodegradable bone replacement materials. J Porous Mater 21:131–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Appa PR, Srinivasa KR, Pydi TR, Govinda K, Mounika C, Chaitanya MV, Rao K (2019) A systematic study of cobalt-zinc ferrite nanoparticles for self regulated magnetic hyperthermia. J Alloys Compd 794:60–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Autian J (1975) Polymer science and technology. Polym Med Surg 8:181–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bedanta S, Kleemann W (2009) Supermagnetism. J Phys D Appl Phys 42:013001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beltran JJ, Barrero CA, Punnoose A (2015) Understanding the role of iron in the magnetism of Fe doped ZnO nanoparticles. Phys Chem Chem Phys 17:15284e15296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berkovsky BM, Medvedev VF, Krakov MS (1993) Magnetic fluids: engineering applications, first edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Brabers V (1995) Progress in spinel ferrite research. Handb Magn Mater 8:189–324

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chandramohan P, Srinivasan M, Velmurugan S, Narasimhan S (2011) Cation distribution and particle size effect on Raman spectrum of CoFe2O4. J Solid State Chem 184:89–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cullity B (1978) Element of X-ray diffraction, 2nd edn. Addison-Wesley, London, p 102

    Google Scholar 

  • Deatsch EA, Evans BA (2014) Heating efficiency in magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia. J Magn Magn Mater 354:163–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dong-Hyun K, David EN, Duane TJ, Christopher SB (2008) Heat generation of aqueously dispersed CoFe2O4 nanoparticles as heating agents for magnetically activated drug delivery and hyperthermia. J Magn Magn Mater 320:2390–2396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandes I d M, Lopes-Moriyama AL, de Souza CP (2017) Effect of synthesis parameters on the size of cobalt ferrite crystallite. Ceram Int 43:3962–3969

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giustini AJ, Alicia AP, Shiraz MC, Jennifer AT, Ian B, Jack HP (2010) Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia in cancer treatment. Nano Life 01:17–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gore S, Mane R, Naushad M, Jadhav S, Zate M, Alothman Z, Hui B (2015) Influence of Bi3+-doping on the magnetic and Mössbauer properties of spinel cobalt ferrite. Dalton Trans 44:6384–6390

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grasset F, Labhsetwar N, Li D, Park D, Saito N, Haneda H, Cador O, Roisnel T, Mornet S, Duguet E, Portier J, Etourneau J (2002) Langmuir 18:8209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heikal YM, AncaŞuţan N, Rizwan M, Elsayed A (2020) Green synthesized silver nanoparticles induced cytogenotoxic and genotoxic changes in Allium cepa L. varies with nanoparticles doses and duration of exposure. Chemosphere 243:125430

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoque S, Srivastava C, Venkatesha N, Kumar P, Chattopadhyay K (2013) Superparamagnetic behaviour and T1, T2 relaxivity of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles for magnetic resonance imaging. Philos Mag 93:1771–1783

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoque SM, Hossain MS, Choudhury S, Akhter S, Hyder F (2016) Synthesis and characterization of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles and its biomedical applications. Mater Lett 162:60–63

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Javed R, Usman M, Tabassum S, Zia M (2016) Effect of capping agents: structural, optical and biological properties of ZnO nanoparticles. Appl Surf Sci 386:19–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Javed R, Ahmed M, Haq I u, Nisa S, Zia M (2017) PVP and PEG doped CuO nanoparticles are more biologically active: antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic and cytotoxic perspective. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl 79:108–115

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Javed R, Rais F, Fatima H, Ihsan U, Muhammad K, Sohaila SN, Ao Q (2020a) Chitosan encapsulated ZnO nanocomposites: fabrication, characterization, and functionalization of bio-dental approaches. Mater Sci Eng C 116:111184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Javed R, Zia M, Naz S, Aisida S, Ain N, Ao Q (2020b) Role of capping agents in the application of nanoparticles in biomedicine and environmental remediation: recent trends and future prospects. J Nanobiotechnol 18:172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jia Z, Ren D, Liang Y, Zhu R (2011) A new strategy for the preparation of porous zinc ferrite nanorods with subsequently light-driven photocatalytic activity. Mater Lett 65:3116–3119

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kambale R, Shaikh P, Kamble S, Kolekar Y (2009) Effect of cobalt substitution on structural, magnetic and electric properties of nickel ferrite. J Alloys Compd 478:599–603

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kapusetti G, Misra N, Singh V, Kushwaha RK, Mati P (2012) Bone cement/layered double hydroxidenanocomposites as potential biomaterials for joint implant. J Biomed Mater Res A 100:3363–3373

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katerina Z, Vicente R, Martin T, Zara C-Z, Boris K, Raquel T, Ivan M, Maria M (2015) Preparation, characterization and application of nanosized copper ferrite photocatalysts for dye degradation under UV irradiation. Mater Chem Phys 160:271–278

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan JA, Qasim M, Singh BR, Singh S, Shoeb M, Khan W, Das D, Naqvi AH (2013) Synthesis and characterization of structural, optical, thermal and dielectric properties of polyaniline/CoFe2O4 nanocomposites with special reference to photocatalytic activity. Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc 109:313–321

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kombaiah K, Judith JV, John LK, Bououdina M, Hamad AA-L, Jothi RR (2017a) Studies on Opuntia dilenii haw mediated multifunctional ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles: optical, magnetic and catalytic. Mater Chem Phys 194:153–164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kombaiah K, Vijaya JJ, Kennedy LJ, Bououdina M, Al-Najar B (2017b) Conventional and microwave combustion synthesis of optomagnetic CuFe2O4 nanoparticles for hyperthermia studies. J Phys Chem Solids 115:162–171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laurent S, Forge D, Port M, Roch A, Robic C, Vander EL, Muller R (2008) Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: synthesis, stabilization, vectorization, physicochemical characterizations, and biological applications. Chem Rev 108:2064–2021

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu G, Li S (1992) Hydrogen production by H2S photodecomposition on ZnFe2O4 catalyst. Int J Hydrog Energy 17:767–770

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lucas WY, Ji-Won M, Claudia JR, Lonnie JL, Adam JR, James RT, Bryan CC, Tommy JP (2011) Magnetic properties of bio-synthesized zinc ferrite nanoparticles. J Magn Magn Mater 323:3043–3048

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lv H, Ma L, Zeng P, Ke D, Peng T (2010) Synthesis of floriated ZnFe2O4 with porous nanorod structures and its photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light. J Mater Chem 20:3665

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Madubuonu N, Aisida SO, Ali A, Ahmad I, Ting-kai Z, Botha S, Maaza M, Ezema FI (2019) Biosynthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles via a composite of Psidium guavaja-Moringa oleifera and their antibacterial and photocatalytic study. J Photochem Photobiol B Biol 199:111601

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manjul G, Geeta J n P (2018) Synthesis and catalytic and biological activities of silver and copper nanoparticles using Cassia occidentalis. Int J Biomater 2018:6735426

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald KJ, Choi K-S (2011) Synthesis and photoelectrochemical properties of Fe2O3/ ZnFe2O4 composite photoanodes for use in solar water oxidation. Chem Mater 23:4863–4869

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mocherla PSV, Karthik C, Ubic R, Rao MSR, Sudakar C (2014) Effect of microstrain on the magnetic properties of BiFeO3 nanoparticles. Appl Phys Lett 105:132409

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monrudee L, Ranjan G, Puri IK (2011) Parametric investigation of heating due to magnetic fluid hyperthermia in a tumor with blood perfusion. J Magn Magn Mater 323:708–716

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee S, Mitra MK (2015) Effect of nickel ferrite on bismuth ferrite to generate nanocomposite in relation to structure, characterization, magnetic properties and band gap evaluation. Adv Mater Lett 6:902–906

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muscas G, Yaacoub N, Concas G, Sayed F, Sayed RH, Greneche JM, Cannas C, Musinu A, Foglietti V, Casciardi S, Sangregorio C, Peddis D (2015) Evolution of the magnetic structure with chemical composition in spinel iron oxide nanoparticles. Nanoscale 7:13576–13585

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nikam D, Jadhav S, Khot V, Bohara R, Hong C, Mali S, Pawar SH (2015) Cation distribution, structural, morphological and magnetic properties of Co1−xZnxFe2O4 (x = 0–1) nanoparticles. RSC Adv 5:2338

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nile S, Park SW (2013) Total phenolics, antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of three colored onions (Allium cepa L.). Front Life Sci 7:224–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okoro DO, Ozuomba J, Aisida S, Asogwa P (2019) Thermal treated sysnthesis and characterization of polyethylene glycol (PEG) mediated Zinc ferrite nanoparticles. Surf Interface 16:127–131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okoroh DO, Ozuomba JO, Aisida SO, Asogwa PU (2019) Properties of zinc ferrite nanoparticles due to PVP mediation and annealing at 500°C. Adv Nanopart 8:36–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Otte J (1988) Hyperthermia in cancer therapy. Eur J Pediatr 147:560–569

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patrick B (1988) Magnetic surface anisotropy of cobalt and surface roughness effects within Neel’s model. J Phys F 18:1291–1298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raghvendra S, Ivo K, Jarmila V, Jaromir H, Jiri M, Lukas K, Jakub T, Jiří Š, Vojtěch E, Miroslava H (2017) Impact of grain size and structural changes on magnetic, dielectric, electrical, impedance and modulus spectroscopic characteristics of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles synthesized by honey mediated sol-gel combustion method. Adv Nat Sci Nanosci Nanotechnol 8:045002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sagar ES, Patange S, Kadam R, Mane M, Jadhav K (2012) Structure refinement, cation site location, spectral and elastic properties of Zn2+ substituted NiFe2O4. J Mol Struct 1024:77–83

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharifi I, Shokrollahi H, Amiri S (2012) Ferrite-based magnetic nanofluids used in hyperthermia applications. J Magn Magn Mater 324:903–915

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shete PB, Patil RM, Thorat ND, Prasad A, Ningthoujam RS, Ghosh SJ, Pawar SH (2014) Magnetic chitosan nanocomposite for hyperthermia therapy application: preparation, characterization and in vitro experiments. Appl Surf Sci 288:149–157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tatarchuk TR, Paliychuk ND, Bououdina M, Al-Najar B, Pacia M, Macyk W, Shyichuk A (2018) Effect of cobalt substitution on structural, elastic, magnetic and optical properties of zinc ferrite nanoparticles. J Alloys Compd 731:1256–1266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Unchista W, Santi M, Ekaphan S (2016) EXAFS analysis of cations distribution in structure of Co1−xNixFe2O4 nanoparticles obtained by hydrothermal method in aloe vera extract solution. Appl Surf Sci 380:60–66

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van VM, De LAA, Raaymakers BW, Van MRJ, Hofman P, Lagendijk JJ, Battermann JJ (2004) Radiotherapy and hyperthermia in the treatment of patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. Preliminary results. BJU Int 93:36–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Liu X, Yang Y, Xiao W, Li Z, Xue D, Lib F, Ding J (2013) Synthesis of nonstoichiometric zinc ferrite nanoparticles with extraordinary room temperature magnetism and their diverse applications. J Mater Chem C 1:2875–2885

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu T, Shen Z, Shi Y, Ding J (2002) Cation migration and magnetic ordering in spinel CoFe2O4 powder: micro-Raman scattering study. J Phys Condens Matter 14:L613

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Johnson DT, Brazel CS (2008) Numerical study on the multiregion bio-heat equation to model magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) using low Curie temperature nanoparticles. IEEE Trans Nanobioscience 7(4):267–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Samson O. Aisida acknowledges the NCP-TWAS Postdoc Fellowship award (NCP-CAAD/TWAS_Fellow8408). Special thanks to Prof. Ishaq Ahmad, the director Experimental Physics Lab., National Center for Physics, Islamabad, Pakistan, and Prof. Fabian I. Ezema, Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Nigeria, and the current dean, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Coal City University, Enugu, Nigeria, for the success of this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Samson O. Aisida & Fabian I. Ezema

  2. National Centre for Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University Campus, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

    Samson O. Aisida & Ishaq Ahmad

  3. Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research, Somerset West, South Africa

    Samson O. Aisida, M. Maaza & Fabian I. Ezema

  4. Nanosciences/Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA), Muckleneuk Ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa

    Samson O. Aisida, M. Maaza & Fabian I. Ezema

  5. Center for Micro and Nano Devices, Department of Physics, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Awais Ali

  6. Department of Physics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Oluwole E. Oyewande

  7. NPU-NCP Joint International Research Center on Advanced Nanomaterials and Defects Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, 710072, China

    Ishaq Ahmad & Ting-kai Zhao

  8. King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Anwar Ul-Hamid

  9. School of Materials Science & Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, 710072, China

    Ting-kai Zhao

Authors
  1. Samson O. Aisida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Awais Ali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Oluwole E. Oyewande
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ishaq Ahmad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anwar Ul-Hamid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ting-kai Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. M. Maaza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Fabian I. Ezema
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Samson O. Aisida.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Guest Editors: Mamadou Diallo, Abdessattar Abdelkefi, and Bhekie Mamba

The main claim of the paper

Biogenic synthesis protocol for ZFNPs and AC-ZFNPs has been successfully obtained using AC as a biological reducing and capping agent for moderate hyperthermia property optimization. Optimized properties of the formulated samples were obtained by the AC concentrations which are propitious for hyperthermia application with moderate SAR values within the therapeutic range. The ZFNPs formulated are auspicious for hyperthermia applications with less side effect owing to their biocompatibility and moderate SAR value within the therapeutic range. The formulated nanoparticles have further broadened the horizon of moderate hyperthermia therapeutic applications with an innocuous protocol within 300 s.

Novelty

In this work, we have prepared ZFNPs functionalized with various concentrations of AC ( 20%, 40%,  and 60%) by the biogenic method to enhance its biocompatibility. This method uses cost-effective, eco-friendly, and innocuous AC as a potential reducing agent to enhance the stability of the formulated colloidal solution for the first time. To our knowledge, the evaluation of the effects of AC on the properties of ZFNPs and its thermoablation evaluation has not been reported in the literature. Hence, the microstructural properties of the colloidal AC-ZFNPs were affirmed by SEM, TEM, and XRD. The optical properties were evaluated by UV-Vis DRS and Raman spectral analyses; the magnetic properties were analyzed by VSM. The properties of ZFNPs were greatly enhanced by the concentration of AC. Also, the highest temperature and the specific absorption rate (SAR) for thermoablation were influenced by the concentration of AC. It is noteworthy that the influence of AC reduces the heating rate from 49 to 34 within 300 s to obtain the highest temperature within the therapeutic range. Hence, the properties of AC-ZnFNPs obtained are auspicious for thermoablation applications.

Why it is relevant

This research is relevant to alleviate the side effect of many cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

How the results advance the field

The self-heating of the formulated samples generates enough heating within the therapeutic temperature range 33–49 °C within 300 s to attain the highest temperature. This makes it a better candidate for magnetic hyperthermia applications. An increase in the concentration of AC atom reduces the heating temperature from 49 to 33 °C, to fall within the therapeutic range. Optimized properties of the formulated samples were obtained by the AC concentrations which are propitious for hyperthermia application with moderate SAR values within the therapeutic range. The obtained sample is projected for further in vivo and in vitro application in the future with thorough cytotoxicity assay.

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This article is part of the topical collection: Nanotechnology Convergence in Africa

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Aisida, S.O., Ali, A., Oyewande, O.E. et al. Biogenic synthesis enhanced structural, morphological, magnetic and optical properties of zinc ferrite nanoparticles for moderate hyperthermia applications. J Nanopart Res 23, 47 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-021-05149-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-021-05149-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation