Introduction

Over the decades, various methods of synthesizing the SPIONs are investigated and reported which includes chemical and physical methods like thermal decomposition, microwave-assisted synthesis, etc. (Kandasamy and Maity 2015; Jadhav and Bongiovanni 2012). While the iron-oxide nanoparticles are synthesized by chemical method, there are a number of factors involved, especially the morphology of the iron-oxide particle depends on the processes like nucleation, growth, aggregation, and adsorption of impurities (Mohapatra and Anand 2010). Moreover, during chemical synthesis of SPIONs, unpaired electrons’ spins in radicals experience various interactions (e.g., spin-orbit, exchange, hyperfine, and Zeeman) and, as a result, carry out coherent and stochastic motions (Schulten and Weller 1978). The only metal nanoparticles approved by Food and Drug Administration are iron-oxide nanoparticles (Colombo et al. 2012). Among the various nanoparticles, superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs) particularly magnetite (Fe3O4) and maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), are researched for their resourcefulness in medical applications like theranostics, hyperthermia, drug delivery, magnet influenced radionuclide therapy, contrasting agents for imaging purposes, and MRI (Schleich et al. 2013; Bolden et al. 2008; Kievit and Zhang 2011; Cortajarena et al. 2014; Jalilian et al. 2009; Talelli et al. 2009: Shubayev et al. 2009; Lee and Hyeon 2012). SPIONs can be used for targeted drug delivery as it can be guided through external magnets as they possess superparamagnetism, and in addition, they do not show magnetic interaction once the external magnetic field is stopped (Li et al. 2016; Leder et al. 2015). Nanoparticles have found their application in imaging, where they are used as contrasting agents. Gold and iodine-based compounds are commonly used in computed tomography (CT) contrasting agents (Thomas et al. 2013; Wang et al. 2011; Giljohann et al. 2010; Hasebroock and Serkova 2009). These metal nanoparticles can scatter and/or absorb the high energy gamma/X-ray radiations; thus, imaging/targeting tumor tissues at deeper location using X-rays is possible (Kwatra et al. 2013), but they have their limitations which depend on the stability inside biological system as well as the chemical nature of particles (Generalov et al. 2015; Retif et al. 2015; Nunes et al. 2006). This therapeutic approach solves the X-ray penetration problem and allows treatment of deep tumors using lower radiation dose than the conventional radiotherapy (Retif et al. 2015). Spatial Frequency Heterodyne Imaging (SFHI), an X-ray imaging technique, has been utilized SPIONs as contrast agents as well as low dose radiation therapy (Rand et al. 2011, 2015; Klein et al. 2014). For the imaging purposes, mixed phase of γ-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 of size between 9 and 20 nm is commonly utilized (Klein et al. 2014). Having in mind the ample potentials of SPIONs, SPIONs were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method and a preliminarily attempt was made to investigate the effect of SPIONs as contrasting agent in visualizing Quail’s egg.

Materials and methods

Materials used

In this research, analytical grade chemicals were used throughout the experiment. For the synthesis of iron-oxide nanoparticles, ferrous sulphate heptahydrate, extra pure (FeSO4·7H2O) was purchased from HiMedia Laboratories, Mumbai, India. Ferric chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3·6H2O) was purchased from Thomas Baker (Chemicals) Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India. Tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (C4H13NO), formaldehyde (CH2O) (41%), and acetone (C3H6O) were bought from SD Fine-Chem Limited, Mumbai, India. Magnets with the strength of 30 Gauss were used for creating magnetic field. Bar magnets with the strength of 50 Gauss were used for magnetic separation of the particles during washing processes. For TEM imaging, Formvar/Carbon copper grids # 300 mesh size were purchased from Toshniwal Brothers (SR) Private Limited. For the application of X-ray, the digital X-ray facility of Cratis Hospital, Bangalore, Karnadaga, India was used. For the synthesis of SPIONs, nitrogenized double distilled water was used.

Synthesis of SPIONs

0.1 g of FeCl36H2O and FeSO47H2O were dissolved separately in 1 ml of nitrogenized double distilled water. Both the iron sources were mixed together. 500 µl of the above solution was added to 500 µl of tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide and vortexed for 5 mins. Different concentrations of the obtained black precipitates were washed with acetone [black precipitate (µl): acetone (ml)—0.03:1, 0.025:1, 0.02:1, 0.015:1, 0.01:1, and 0.005:1]. Magnetic field was applied and acetone was slowly pipetted out. Each derived pellet was dried in the hot air oven at 60 °C for half an hour. The obtained pellet (0.003, 0.0025, 0.002, 0.0015, 0.001, and 0.0005) was dissolved in 700 µl of Formaldehyde. Then, 300 µl of nitrogenized double distilled water was added dropwise with simultaneous vortexing. Again, 500 µl of formaldehyde solution was added dropwise with simultaneous vortex. The percentage solution obtained was as follows—0.2, 0.166, 0.133, 0.1, 0.066, and 0.033%. Different concentration of solution was prepared to find the optimal condition of production of monodispersed nanoparticles. Thus, precursor iron molecular solution was prepared. This precursor iron molecular solution was kept in magnetic field for 2 days for the synthesis of SPIONs (Fig. 1). After 2 days of incubation, the obtained SPIONs were dispersed into the same solution. The optimum concentration of precursor iron molecular solution for the synthesis of SPIONs was determined by analyzing the pH and calorimetric reading at 720 nm.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Precursor ironic molecular solution kept in the magnetic field for the synthesis of SPIONs

Microscopy analysis

Transmission electron microscopy

TEM images were taken in TEECNAI G2 Spirit Biotwin—120 kV. Prior to the imaging, the samples were loaded in Formvar/Carbon copper grids # 300 mesh. TEM images were taken for the SPIONs synthesized at all the six molecular concentrations. Morphologically satisfactory particles synthesized in the optimum concentration were subjected for the other microscopic and spectroscopic and X-ray studies.

Scanning electron microscopy

SEM images of synthesized SPIONs were taken in Zeiss Ultra55. Prior to the imaging, the particles were dried and were done with gold coating in Quorum, Q 150R ES.

Atomic force microscopy

Samples were transferred onto a clean glass coverslip. AFM images were taken in Bruker, Dimension icon model.

Spectroscopy analysis

UV–Vis spectroscopy

UV–Vis absorbance value was obtained between 200 and 800 nm using UV 3600 Shimadzu UV–Vis spectrophotometer.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

FTIR spectra were recorded using IR Affinity 1S (Shimadzu, Japan). The sample for the spectra was mounted over a clean glass slide and the reading was recorded with transmission mode scan in the spectral region of 4000–500 cm−1.

Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectra were taken in LabRam HR 800 model of Horiba Jobinyvon. The sample was dried in a clean glass slide and 785 nm diode laser was used for deriving the spectrum.

X-ray diffraction spectroscopy

XRD (FXRD) spectra were taken in Smart lab XRD model of Rigaku, and Copper Kα was used as the X-ray source and the power used was 1.2 kw.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)

XPS analysis was done in Ultra DLD model of Kratos. Monochromatic source Al Kα at the condition of 10 K eV as accelerating voltage and 9 mA current (90 W) at the vacuum of 2e−9 torr was used. In addition to Fe, spectrum for metal oxide, carbon, and nitrogen was also taken to understand the interstitial elements in the SPIONs.

NMR spectroscopy

NMR analysis was done in Bruker NMR Spectrometer, using BBFO Probe. The analysis was done before the application of the magnetic field (precursor iron molecular solution) and after the application of the magnetic field (after the synthesis of SPIONs). It was done for the hydrogen and carbon.

Zeta potential analysis

To understand the stability of the SPIONs, zeta potential value was recorded in zeta potential analyzer using Brookhaven ZetaPALS.

Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID)

SQUID from quantum design, the material properties and measurement system (MPMS), was used to take the magnetic hysteresis and also the magnetic measurements at both (field cooled) FC and (zero-field cooled) ZFC modes.

X-ray imaging of quail’s egg

Quail’s eggs were used for observing the contrasting effect of the SPIONs. 2 ml of egg substance was removed with the help of a syringe. 1/1.8 ml of SPIONs in distilled water was injected into the egg. It was then done with gentle hand shaking for a minute to get the particles dispersed inside the egg. It was then subjected for hospital-based X-ray imaging. For observing the contrasting effect, Wipro G machine with the capacity of 300 milli ampere (ma) was used. For taking the X-ray film, the computerized radiography (CR) of Fujifilm FCR Prima T was used. To observe whether the SPIONS are having magnetic property inside the system, a one bar magnet was kept near the SPIONs’ dispersed egg and the X-ray image was taken. While taking the images, the eggs were kept over a cotton flat to prevent them from rolling down the X-ray cassette.

Results and discussion

Synthesis of SPIONS

pH and calorimetric values of six different concentrations precursor ironic molecular solution and the resultant SPIONs were analyzed (Tables 1, 2). The SPIONs formed at 0.133% concentration were found to be dispersed for longer duration, even for a month. The increase in absorbance and change in pH in the further dilution was due to lack of monodispersion. It is already reported that the colloidal stability is greatly influenced by pH and which is contributed by organic acids (Tombácz et al. 2013, 2014). The reduction in pH value could be attributed by the disappearance of organic molecular hydrogen from the solution into the SPIONs as the interstitial element which is further substantiated with NMR results. Moreover, the fine saturation of precursor molecules in appropriate organic solvent was expected at this concentration and the type and strength of the magnetic field applied for better tuning of SPIONs could also be a better possibility.

Table 1 Colorimetric readings taken at 720 nm for the precursor ironic molecular solution (before the synthesis of SPIONs) and after the synthesis of SPIONs
Table 2 pH values taken for precursor iron molecular solution (before the synthesis of SPIONs and after the synthesis of SPIONs)

Microscopic results

To determine the optimum working concentration for the further experiment, the morphology of the SPIONs synthesized in the six different concentrations was imaged under TEM (Fig. 2a–f). SPIONs synthesized at 0.133% of concentration were found to be morphologically finest among the other concentrations, and the size was found to be ranging between 15 and 20 nm (Fig. 2c). More uniform and less aggregated particles were observed at this specific concentration. In case of the increased concentration, more aggregation was found (Fig. 2a, b). In lesser concentrations, comparatively the morphology was not uniform (Fig. 2d, e) and a considerable volume of molecules remained not involved in the magnetic field-mediated reaction which was observed as a light black shade as it appears in the image (Fig. 2f). The optimal condition for the SPION formation was at 0.133% which involved various factors like reducing agents and concentration of precursor molecule used. For the present study, those SPIONs synthesized at 0.133% were further studied by SEM and AFM imaging. SEM and AFM analysis of the particles showed that the particles were well dispersed and size below 20 nm (Fig. 3a, b).

Fig. 2
figure 2

TEM images of SPIONs synthesized in the magnetic field-mediated method at six different precursor iron molecular concentrations. a 0.2%, b 0.166%, c 0.133%, d 0.100%, e 0.066%, and f 0.033%

Fig. 3
figure 3

Analysis of SPIONS under various microscopes. a SEM image of the SPIONs synthesized in the magnetic field with 0.133% precursor iron molecular solution. b AFM image of SPIONs synthesized in the magnetic field with 0.133% precursor iron molecular solution

Spectroscopic analysis

UV–Vis

SPIONs synthesized at 0.133% of molecular concentration showed absorbance spectral ranges between 250 and 300 nm (Fig. 4). Among the respective peaks, the absorbance maximum at 250 nm is the characteristic peak for the SPIONs. This value is much closer to the already reported absorbance near 250 nm maxima for magnetic nanoparticles (Wang et al. 2014; Samrot et al. 2016). The other minor peaks observed may be due to the absorbance of the organic molecules.

Fig. 4
figure 4

UV–Vis spectra of SPIONs

FTIR

The FTIR spectrum of SPIONs manifests the prominent absorption bands located between 3384 and 2073 cm−1 which is considered the finger print region for iron-oxide nanoparticles (Fig. 5). Most of the bands are O–H stretching/carboxylic acid (m) and –C≡C– which are characteristic of the interstitial organic molecules present among the crystalline phases of SPIONs. This is because of SPIONs synthesized in chemical method; the high absorption affinity was resulted from π-electron interactions with polar surface of magnetic nanoparticles, as well as complex bond formation at ≡Fe–OH sites (Tombácz et al. 2013).

Fig. 5
figure 5

FTIR spectra of the SPIONs

Raman spectroscopy

According to the given Raman spectra (Fig. 6), the peaks at 220, 280, 400, and 470 cm−1 correspond to Eg mode and the peak at 600 cm−1 corresponds to A1 g mode of the iron oxide. Similar peak ranges were already reported by Mitchell et al. (2015), which is arising when iron-oxide nanoparticles were subjected to 514.5 nm wavelength laser excitation.

Fig. 6
figure 6

Raman spectra of the SPIONs

XRD

The X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the obtained SPIONs are crystalline in nature (Fig. 7). All the XRD peaks could be identified with γ-Fe2O3 structure in comparison with what is already reported by Layek et al. (2010).

Fig. 7
figure 7

XRD spectra of SPIONs

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

XPS data support that the synthesized particle as Fe2p3/2 metallic nature with mixed elements. As per the spectra (Fig. 8a), the binding energy for Fe2O3 occurs at 710.8 eV and FeO at 709.6 eV, and Fe at 706.7 eV. A considerable amount of metal chloride was present in the SPIONs for which the binding energy occurs at 710.4 eV in the spectrum. The binding energy for oxygen was observed (Fig. 8b). Peak occurred in between 529 and 530 eV was suggestive of metal oxide. Other than the metal oxide, minor level of organic oxygen was also detected. The binding energy observed at 531.5–532 eV was suggestive of C–O, and ~533 eV was suggestive of C=O and ~535 was suggestive of O–F X . The reason for the presence of organic oxygen is that since iron is a transition metal, which are capable of entrapping smaller atoms such as H, C, and N in their interstitial sites of their crystal lattices. These trapped atoms get bonded to the atoms of the transition elements (Yadav 2003). Moreover, significant presence of molecular carbon is detected in the SPIONs (Fig. 8c). The binding energy occurs at 284.8, 286, and 288.5 eV was suggestive of C–C, C–O–C, and O–C=O, respectively. Though it is likely to occur the adventitious carbon contamination during the chemical process, the magnetic field-mediated synthesis would also be another reason for this phenomenon. The occurrence of interstitial elements like hydrogen and carbon in magnetic field-mediated synthesis is further substantiated in a preliminarily scale by NMR spectra which was done for carbon and hydrogen of precursor ironic molecular solution and then the SPIONs synthesized in the magnetic field.

Fig. 8
figure 8

XPS spectra of SPIONs: a Fe2p3/2; b for metal oxide; c for adventitious carbon

NMR

NMR was used to study the difference occurred before and after the synthesis of SPIONs. Special focus was given to hydrogen and carbon. The presence of hydrogen (Fig. 9a, b) and the presence of carbon (Fig. 9c, d) were examined in both precursor ironic molecular solution and the synthesized SPIONs. The difference in the resonance values for hydrogen and carbon was taken for precursor ironic molecular solution and the synthesized SPIONs (Table 3). The difference in the spectral values could be equated with change in the pH values before and after the synthesis of SPIONs. In the spectrum, it could be noted that there is an emergence of two peaks at 2.168 and 86.235 for hydrogen and carbon, respectively, in precursor iron solution, whereas it was considerably decreasing in the spectral values after the synthesis of SPIONs; this could be interpreted as the phenomenon of molecular convergence occurred in the magnetic field-mediated synthesis of SPIONs.

Fig. 9
figure 9

a NMR spectra for hydrogen of precursor iron molecular solution, i.e., before the synthesis of SPIONs in the magnetic field; b NMR spectra for hydrogen for SPIONs synthesized in the magnetic field; c NMR spectra of carbon of precursor iron molecular solution; d NMR spectra of carbon of SPIONs synthesized in the magnetic field

Table 3 NMR spectral values

Zeta potential

The zeta potential value (mV) is derived at −14.5 (Fig. 10). The importance of zeta potential is already reported in detail (Salopek et al. 1992). Moreover, the particles are negatively charged and the conductivity is measured at (mS/cm) 1.28.

Fig. 10
figure 10

Zeta potential analysis of the SPIONs

SQUID

The shape of the hysteresis curve for the particles was normal and tight with no hysteresis losses as expected for superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (Fig. 11a). Only for temperatures below, T B does the moment stay fixed in one direction during the time of measurement. Under low applied field, a high magnetization (M S) and the coercivity (H C) of the SPIONs are about 0.002 emu (DC moment). Magnetization values were found to be below the 0.5 M S for 40 nm cubic particles (Martinez-Boubeta et al. 2013). In our study, the M S was lesser for our particle, as smaller particles have smaller magnetization (Martinez-Boubeta et al. 2013; Disch et al. 2012). To test the magnetic susceptibility, the temperature was held constant at 300 K for hysteresis measurement at the applied magnetic field 5T. Temperature-dependent magnetization (FC and ZFC) of the SPIONs was studied. In case of FC magnetization measurement, the sample was cooled in the presence of magnetic field to a temperature of 5 K to the magnetization which was recorded up to 400 K (Fig. 11b). Accordingly, there are different transition fluctuations observed. There was a steady increase in the magnetic moment as the temperature increased up to 200 K and a sudden decrease at 300 K, and again an immediate increase up to 300–350 K, and finally a sudden fall at 400 K. The reduction in coercivity was observed mean particle size that was decreased (Martinez-Boubeta et al. 2013). Transition fluctuation in magnetic moment probably due to the different molecular arrangements occurred when the particles were formed in the magnetic field. In case of zero-field cooled (ZFC) mode, the sample was initially lowered to 5 K without any magnetic field applied. At the lowest temperature, a very week magnetic field was applied, and then, the magnetization was recorded as the temperature increased up to 400 K (Fig. 11c). At ZFC moments, the initial value is relatively very small; which means that the magnetic moments are frozen at this temperature (5 K). The magnetic moment increased as the temperature was increased and reached a maximum at the blocking temperature (about 350 K). Both for FC and ZFC moments, a common saturation magnetization was found at 350 K which is considered here as the TB for SPIONs synthesized in the magnetic field-mediated method. SPIONs synthesized in this study were found to withstand to temperature up to 350 k, and thus, it finds application in hyperthermia where temperature rises 315 K; at this temperature, it initiates apoptosis-induced cell death (Fuller et al. 1994; Harmon et al. 1991).

Fig. 11
figure 11

SQUID magnetic analysis. a Hysteresis of the SPIONs synthesized in the magnetic field-mediated method at 0.133% of precursor iron molecular solution; b field cooled (FC) magnetization measurement; c zero-field cooled (ZFC) magnetization measurement

X-ray imaging of quail’s egg

SPIONs were helping in visualizing the quail’s egg clearly and they were enhancing the effect of X-ray and it could be used as contrasting agent in X-ray imaging. Even the magnetite was found to obey the external applied magnetic field (Fig. 12c, d). The commonly used computed tomography (CT) contrast agents are gold and iodine-based compounds; the contrasting agents block X-ray and enhance the image quality but these contrasting agents with side effects or cost effective (Thomas et al. 2013; Wang et al. 2011; Giljohann et al. 2010; Hasebroock and Serkova 2009). SPIONs can be used as contrasting agent where iron oxides are non-toxic and believed to be metabolized into hemoglobin in body (Laurent et al. 2008; Rosen et al. 2012; Gupta and Gupta, 2005).

Fig. 12
figure 12

X-ray radio sensitizing effect of SPIONs in quail’s egg. a X-ray image of control egg; b X-ray image of control egg with under applied magnetic field; c X-ray image of experimental egg with SPIONs dispersed in it; d X-ray radio sensitizing effect of SPIONs dispersed in the egg under applied magnetic field

Conclusion

In this study, precursor solution for SPION synthesis was standardized. The produced SPIONs were found to be crystalline and the size was observed between 15 and 20 nm. The SPION was found to be dispersed and spherically shaped which was confirmed by SEM and AFM. The crystallinity pattern confirms the SPION to be Fe2O3. SPIONs were utilized as contrasting agent imaging quail’s egg and it was found to enhance the imaging pattern.