Iron doped β-Tricalcium phosphate: Synthesis, characterization, hyperthermia effect, biocompatibility and mechanical evaluation

•Ability of β-Ca3(PO4)2 to host iron at its structural lattice is investigated.•β-Ca3(PO4)2 preserves structural stability by hosting 5.02 mol% of Fe3 + at its Ca2 +(5) site.•Exceeding the critical limit of Fe3 + additions results to yield CaFe3(PO4)3O as secondary phase.•Fe3 + occupancy at β-Ca3(PO4)2 improves hyperthermia effect and mechanical properties.•Fe3 + doped β-Ca3(PO4)2 exhibits good biocompatibility.

The ability of β-Tricalcium phosphate [β-TCP, β-Ca3(PO4)2] to host iron at its structural lattice and its associated magnetic susceptibility, hyperthermia effect, biocompatibility and mechanical characteristics is investigated. The studies revealed the ability of β-Ca3(PO4)2 to host 5.02 mol% of Fe3 + at its Ca2 +(5) site. Excess Fe3 + additions led to the formation of trigonal Ca9Fe(PO4)7 and moreover a minor amount of CaFe3(PO4)3O crystallization was also observed. A gradual increment in the iron content at β-Ca3(PO4)2 results in the simultaneous effect of pronounced hyperthermia effect and mechanical stability. However, the presence of CaFe3(PO4)3O contributes for the reduced hyperthermia effect and mechanical stability of iron substituted β-Ca3(PO4)2. Haemolytic tests, cytotoxicity tests and ALP gene expression analysis confirmed the biocompatibility of the investigated systems.