RESUMEN
Polycrystalline samples of Ba0.96Ca0.04Ti0.91Fe0.09O3 were prepared using a conventional solid state reaction route with different Fe starting precursors (Fe2O3, Fe3O4). The Rietveld refined XRD data confirmed the phase purity and tetragonal crystal structure of both the samples. The average grain size measured using SEM was ≈0.40 µm in both the samples. XPS analysis confirmed the presence of only Fe2+ and both Fe2+/Fe3+ in Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 doped BCT samples. The P r and M r values have been measured to be 1.34 µC cm-2, 2.88 µC cm-2 and 0.0015 emu g-1 and 0.135 emu g-1 in Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 doped BCT samples, respectively. The Fe3O4 doped samples exhibit much better M-E coupling (≈22%) as compared to Fe2O3 (≈7%) doped BCT samples. The results obtained hence suggest that Fe3O4 doping in BCT is better suited for multiferroic applications.
RESUMEN
Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were optimally synthesized employing two energy sources viz. thermal and microwave using low temperature co-precipitation process. Both methods yielded particles with optimum physicochemical properties for biomedical applications like smaller size (~6--7 nm), narrow size distribution (standard deviation ~1.6-1.7 nm) and good magnetic parameters (saturation magnetisation ~53 emu/g at 9 T). Simplified process made use of domestic oven. After coating by amino acid serine, successful loading (>8 wt%) of drug Doxorubicin was achieved for both SPIONs. Microwave sample showed equivalently efficient drug loading despite half the serine coating. Findings were confirmed by various techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) etc. Differences in thermal homogeneities and efficiency of heat transfer between two energy modes affected the properties of synthesized SPIONs. Differences were observed in amount of serine coating, drug release behaviour and in vitro experiments on A549 cells like internalisation and cell viability data. About 59 and 39% pH and time dependent drug release at pH 5 was obtained for thermal and microwave sample respectively. In vitro experiments confirmed the successful internalisation and cell death, supporting the suitability of SPIONS as efficient targeted drug carriers. Despite lesser drug release, microwave sample showed comparable in vitro results. Study emphasizes the role and importance of energy in affecting the efficiency and functional behaviour of SPIONs as nano drug carriers. Being biocompatible and magnetic these particles can be applied successfully as efficient targeted drug delivery agents.