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Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application

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A special issue of Magnetochemistry (ISSN 2312-7481). This special issue belongs to the section "Magnetic Nanospecies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 August 2023) | Viewed by 11177

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maria Paz Fernández García

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Guest Editor

Department of Physics, University of Oviedo, Federico García Lorca, 18, 33007 Oviedo, Spain
Interests: materials science; magnetism; metallic and ferrite nanoparticles; synthesis of nanomaterials; physicochemical characterization

Dr. María Salvador

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Guest Editor

Department of Physics, University of Oviedo, Campus de Viesques, 33204 Gijón, Spain
Interests: magnetic nanoparticles; lateral flow assays; bioconjugation; inductive sensors; point-of-care test

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Today, more than ever, scientific research is called upon to solve social problems. Nanotechnology offers enormous possibilities for contemporary science and several industries. Metal oxide nanoparticles, such as proteins, genes, cells, viruses, and bacteria, can be used to interact with biological entities. In biomedicine, these nanoparticles are being developed as theragnostic agents. Additionally, they allow for smaller, faster, and more efficient devices to be manufactured in the electronic and energy conversion/storage industries.

In this context, this Special Issue aims to provide insights into the successes, challenges, and opportunities provided by metal oxide particles for these biological and technological applications. It provides a forum for the submission and discussion of original contributions that review metal oxide nanoparticles applications in general, their requirements, and how they can be achieved by using different synthesis methods and characterization techniques.

Dr. Maria Paz Fernández García
Dr. María Salvador
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Magnetochemistry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

core/shell nanoparticles
high-aspect-ratio nanoparticles
synthesis of nanoparticles
characterization of nanoparticles
fundamental properties of nanoparticles
biomedical applications of nanoparticles
nanoparticle surface modifications
data storage

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 5913 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tunable Iron–Cobalt Thin Films Grown by Electrodeposition

by Sofia Gonçalves, Vivian Andrade, Célia T. Sousa, João P. Araújo, João H. Belo and Arlete Apolinário

Magnetochemistry 2023, 9(7), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry9070161 - 21 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1362

Abstract

Iron–cobalt (FeCo) alloys are highly desirable for their exceptional and adjustable physicochemical properties, particularly in the form of thin films. This study focuses on the growth of iron–cobalt (FeCo) alloy thin films using potentiostatic electrodeposition. The effects of applied voltage and FeCo stoichiometry on the morphology, structure, and magnetic properties of the films are investigated. The results indicate that the electrodeposition potential does not affect the overall stoichiometry or the structural and magnetic properties. However, it does impact film thickness and grain sizes. Higher applied potentials lead to thicker films with faster growth rates, as well as smoother and more homogeneous films with smaller grains. Films with different Fe:Co ratios (Fe₉₀Co₁₀, Fe₅₀Co₅₀, and Fe₁₀Co₉₀) are obtained, and their compositions have a direct impact on morphology, with the amount of Fe influencing film thickness, growth rates, and grain sizes. Increasing Fe content (50, 90%) leads to thicker films and smaller grains. Films with low Fe content (10%) exhibit a face-centered cubic (fcc) structural phase instead of the typical body-centered cubic (bcc) structure. All FeCo alloys display soft magnetic properties with characteristic coercivities, and the low Fe (10%) sample with the fcc structure exhibits the highest coercivity among all the samples. The nucleation and growth mechanisms are investigated using electrodeposition curves and the Scharifker and Hills model. Increasing the applied potential leads to thicker films and higher growth rates, with the nucleation mechanism identified as instantaneous nucleation in the diffusion-controlled regime. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application)

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17 pages, 4241 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fluorescent Magnetic Mesoporous Nanoprobes for Biotechnological Enhancement Procedures in Gene Therapy

by Manuel A. González-Gómez, Román Seco-Gudiña, Pelayo García-Acevedo, Ángela Arnosa-Prieto, Lisandra de Castro-Alves, Yolanda Piñeiro and José Rivas

Magnetochemistry 2023, 9(3), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry9030067 - 26 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1721

Abstract

In recent years, nanotechnology has deployed a new set of theragnostic tools, including magnetic resonance contrast agents, nano-delivery systems and magnetic hyperthermia treatments in cancer therapy, exploiting not only the small size of nanoparticles, but also relevant nanoscale properties such as superparamagnetism. Specifically, magnetic nanostructures can be remotely manipulated by external magnetic fields, incrementing their possibilities not only for theragnosis, but also for biotech procedures. Genetic engineering processes involve a set of steps like extracting cells from complex environments, their selection and subsequent cultivation or modification by transfection and can benefit from the use of bioconjugated magnetic nanoparticles. Magnetofection of cells with genes or biological material uploaded on superparamagnetic nanoparticles attracted by a magnetic field greatly increases the efficiency, specificity and speed of the biotechnological procedure in gene transfer systems. This article presents a preliminary investigation into the enhanced transfection efficiency of fluorescent magnetic mesoporous silica nanostructures functionalized with mCherry plasmid, which were used to transfect HeLa cells in just 15 min via magnetic transfection. This method was compared to passive transfection (4 h) and conventional gene transfer using the commercial K2 Transfection System (16 h). The results demonstrated that the fluorescent magnetic mesoporous silica nanostructures were similarly effective to the commercial kit, without the need for reagents that increase costs in clinical therapy. Furthermore, viability assays conducted with HeLa cells showed negligible toxicity at concentrations of up to 50 μg/mL. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application)

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18 pages, 7248 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Bifunctional Magnetite–Gold Nanoparticles for Magneto-Mechanical Actuation and Cancer Cell Destruction

by Anastasiia S. Garanina, Maria V. Efremova, Alexey E. Machulkin, Evgeny V. Lyubin, Natalia S. Vorobyeva, Oxana A. Zhironkina, Olga S. Strelkova, Igor I. Kireev, Irina B. Alieva, Rustem E. Uzbekov, Viatcheslav N. Agafonov, Igor V. Shchetinin, Andrey A. Fedyanin, Alexander S. Erofeev, Peter V. Gorelkin, Yuri E. Korchev, Alexander G. Savchenko and Maxim A. Abakumov

Magnetochemistry 2022, 8(12), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry8120185 - 12 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1914

Abstract

Magnetite–gold dumbbell nanoparticles are essential for biomedical applications due to the presence of two surfaces with different chemical natures and the potential combination of magnetic and plasmonic properties. Here, the remote actuation of Fe₃O₄-Au hybrid particles in a rotating (1 Hz, 7 mT), static (7 mT) or pulsed low-frequency (31 Hz, 175 mT, 30 s pulse/30 s pause) magnetic field was studied. The particles were synthesized by a high-temperature wet chemistry protocol and exhibited superparamagnetic properties with the saturation magnetization of 67.9 ± 3.0 Am² kg⁻¹. We showcased the nanoparticles’ controlled aggregation in chains (rotating/static magnetic field) in an aqueous solution and their disaggregation when the field was removed. The investigation of nanoparticle uptake by LNCaP and PC-3 cancer cells demonstrated that Fe₃O₄-Au hybrids mainly escaped endosomes and accumulated in the cytoplasm. A significant fraction of them still responded to a rotating magnetic field, forming short chains. The particles were not toxic to cells at concentrations up to 210 μg (Fe₃O₄) mL⁻¹. However, cell viability decrease after incubation with the nanoparticles (≥70 μg mL⁻¹) and exposure to a pulsed low-frequency magnetic field was found. We ascribe this effect to mechanically induced cell destruction. Overall, this makes Fe₃O₄-Au nanostructures promising candidates for intracellular actuation for future magneto-mechanical cancer therapies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application)

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Graphical abstract

21 pages, 21026 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Synthesis and Characterization of Bioactive Magnetic Nanoparticles from the Perspective of Hyperthermia Applications

by Elena-Alina Moacă, Vlad Socoliuc, Dana Stoian, Claudia Watz, Daniela Flondor, Cornelia Păcurariu, Robert Ianoș, Cristiana Iulia Rus, Lucian Barbu-Tudoran, Alexandra Semenescu, Cristian Sarău, Adelina Chevereșan and Cristina Adriana Dehelean

Magnetochemistry 2022, 8(11), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry8110145 - 1 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2017

Abstract

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were obtained for the first time via the green chemistry approach, starting from two aqueous extracts of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.), both leaf and stems. In order to obtain magnetic nanoparticles suitable for medical purposes, more precisely with hyperthermia inducing features, a synthesis reaction was conducted, both at room temperature (25 °C) and at 80 °C, and with two formulations of the precipitation agent. Both the quality and stability of the synthesized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were physiochemically characterized: phase composition (X-ray powder diffraction (XRD)), thermal behavior (thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)), electron microscopy (scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM)), and magnetic properties (DC and HF-AC). The magnetic investigation of the as-obtained magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles revealed that the synthesis at 80 °C using a mixture of NaOH and NH₃(aq) increases their diameter and implicitly enhances their specific absorption rate (SAR), a mandatory parameter for practical applications in hyperthermia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application)

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14 pages, 2665 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrophobic Magnetite Nanoparticles for Bioseparation: Green Synthesis, Functionalization, and Characterization

by Vahid Alimohammadi, Seyyed Ali Seyyed Ebrahimi, Faezeh Kashanian, Zahra Lalegani, Mehran Habibi-Rezaei and Bejan Hamawandi

Magnetochemistry 2022, 8(11), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry8110143 - 28 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1643

Abstract

In this study, three types of hydrophobized alkyl-modified magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) comprising direct alkylated-MNPs (A-MNPs), silica-mediated alkyl MNPs (A-SiMNPs), and arginine (Arg)-mediated alkyl MNPs (A-RMNPs) were synthesized successfully. For this purpose, the co-precipitation method was used to synthesize, and octadecyl trimethoxy silane (OTMS) was used as a functionalizing agent. Accordingly, the hydrophobic octadecyl moieties were connected to MNPs. The nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized by XRD, SEM, FTIR, CHN, DLS, and zeta potential analyses. The synthesized coated MNPs represented a decrease in surface charge and magnetization alongside increased surface hydrophobicity and size. It was revealed that the alkylation process was successfully performed to all three MNPs, but A-SiMNPs showed the highest hydrophobicity. Additionally, the novel A-RMNPs, as the most biocompatible type, and A-MNPs showed the highest magnetization among the synthesized MNPs. The results indicate that synthesized NPs can play an important role in bio applications. However, it was revealed that alkyl chains are easily connected to all three MNPs, and that A-MNPs contained the highest alkyl chains and could affect the re-folding and denaturation process of recombinant proteins. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application)

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Review

Jump to: Research

39 pages, 4449 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceReview

Ferromagnetic Resonance in Magnetic Oxide Nanoparticules: A Short Review of Theory and Experiment

by Ibtissem Benguettat-El Mokhtari and David S. Schmool

Magnetochemistry 2023, 9(8), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry9080191 - 25 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1743

Abstract

This review article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent FMR studies on magnetic oxide nanoparticles and their potential applications. The use of the FMR technique is a powerful tool to study the magnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles and can provide valuable information on their behavior. For this, we will start by discussing the purpose of these magnetic nanoparticles and their application in various fields, including biomedical applications, energy storage, and environmental remediation. We will then discuss the methods used to prepare magnetic nanoparticles and the theory behind FMR including the superparamagnetic effect. Additionally, we will present the most recent studies on FMR for magnetic oxide nanoparticles by highlighting the effect of temperature and doping on the magnetic properties of these nanoparticles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application)

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