Fabrication of new magnetite-graphene nanocomposite and comparison of its laser-hyperthermia properties with conventionally prepared magnetite-graphene hybrid

•Synthesis of magnetic Fe3O4-rGO with modified surface, smaller size and lesser cytotoxicity in supercritical methanol.•Development of a heat transfer model for prediction of tissue temperature in hyperthermia process.•Enhancement in thermal conductivity and light absorption coefficient of tissue by injecting of new magnetic Fe3O4-rGO.•Application of the nanocomposits in efficient laser hyperthermia in the tumorous cells.

A single step supercritical method was introduced for synthesis of “magnetite - reduced graphene oxide (M-rGO)” composite in supercritical methanol. Modified surface, smaller size, lesser cytotoxicity, and homogenous dispersion of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on the graphene surface were advantages of this new M-rGO composite in comparison to the materials synthesized by conventional wet chemical method (M-GO). Nanocomposites were injected in tissue equivalent phantoms of agarose gel in 10 mg/g dosage, and were irradiated by a 1600 mW laser beam at wavelength of 800-810 nm. The M-rGO and M-GO were found to be the most and the least efficient samples for increasing the temperature of the phantom. As for mathematical analysis of the heating process, a heat transfer model was developed and solved by the COMSOL Multiphysics software. Results showed an appreciable agreement with the experiments and revealed enhancement in thermal conductivity and light absorption coefficient of tissue by injecting of M-rGO sample. Our findings showed that M-rGO is a promising material for laser hyperthermia, which can deposit adequate heat dose with desirable effect in the tumorous cells in a short period.

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