Fabrication, characterization, and application of greigite nanoparticles for cancer hyperthermia

Greigite is a Fe–S-containing complex having magnetic properties mainly synthesized in the solution. In the present study, greigite was synthesized by a coprecipitation method at different pH’s and reaction times. The greigite phase was analyzed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) method at an optimum pH of 3.0 and reaction time of 10 min, respectively. The magnetization characterization by superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) revealed that the magnetic saturation was obtained at 16.1538 (emu/g). The inductive heating property of the greigite nanoparticles was carried out by induction heater power cube (IHPC) in an alternating current magnetic field and the results indicated that the heating effect was significant. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the size of the greigite was around 50–100 nm and the edges of nanoparticles have no clear boundary or distinctive morphology. Studies on LDH and WST-I assay revealed low cytotoxicity at greigite concentrations of 1 mg/ml. In vitro experiments suggested that cancerous cells, human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line (A549), had the ability to become more damaged under AC magnetic field than the normal human lung cells (HFL-1).

The hysteresis loop of Fe3S4 was measured by SQUID at 10 K and the magnetic saturation was obtained at 16.1538 (emu/g).Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (83 K)Download as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights
► The main objective of this paper is to synthesize greigite by coprecipitation
► Application of greigite nanoparticles to induce magnetic hyperthermia
► The reports on chemical synthesis of greigite are completely limited
► This study provides the authentic evidence on the chemical synthesis of greigite.