Influence of SPION Surface Coating on Magnetic Properties and Theranostic Profile
Vital Cruvinel Ferreira-Filho,
Beatriz Morais,
Bruno J. C. Vieira,
João Carlos Waerenborgh,
Maria João Carmezim,
Csilla Noémi Tóth,
Sandra Même,
Sara Lacerda,
Daniel Jaque,
Célia T. Sousa,
Maria Paula Cabral Campello,
Laura C. J. Pereira
Affiliations
Vital Cruvinel Ferreira-Filho
Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Departamento Engenharia Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, EN10, km 139,7, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal
Beatriz Morais
Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Departamento Engenharia Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, EN10, km 139,7, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal
Bruno J. C. Vieira
Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Departamento Engenharia Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, EN10, km 139,7, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal
João Carlos Waerenborgh
Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Departamento Engenharia Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, EN10, km 139,7, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal
Maria João Carmezim
Centro de Química Estrutural-CQE, DEQ, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
Csilla Noémi Tóth
Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS, UPR 4301, Université d’Orléans, Rue Charles Sadron, 45071 Orléans, CEDEX 2, France
Sandra Même
Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS, UPR 4301, Université d’Orléans, Rue Charles Sadron, 45071 Orléans, CEDEX 2, France
Sara Lacerda
Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS, UPR 4301, Université d’Orléans, Rue Charles Sadron, 45071 Orléans, CEDEX 2, France
Daniel Jaque
Departamento de Física de Materiales, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Avda. Francisco Tomás y Valiente 7, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Célia T. Sousa
Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Avda. Francisco Tomás y Valiente 7, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Maria Paula Cabral Campello
Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Departamento Engenharia Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, EN10, km 139,7, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal
Laura C. J. Pereira
Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Departamento Engenharia Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, EN10, km 139,7, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal
This study aimed to develop multifunctional nanoplatforms for both cancer imaging and therapy using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). Two distinct synthetic methods, reduction–precipitation (MR/P) and co-precipitation at controlled pH (MpH), were explored, including the assessment of the coating’s influence, namely dextran and gold, on their magnetic properties. These SPIONs were further functionalized with gadolinium to act as dual T1/T2 contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Parameters such as size, stability, morphology, and magnetic behavior were evaluated by a detailed characterization analysis. To assess their efficacy in imaging and therapy, relaxivity and hyperthermia experiments were performed, respectively. The results revealed that both synthetic methods lead to SPIONs with similar average size, 9 nm. Mössbauer spectroscopy indicated that samples obtained from MR/P consist of approximately 11–13% of Fe present in magnetite, while samples obtained from MpH have higher contents of 33–45%. Despite coating and functionalization, all samples exhibited superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature. Hyperthermia experiments showed increased SAR values with higher magnetic field intensity and frequency. Moreover, the relaxivity studies suggested potential dual T1/T2 contrast agent capabilities for the coated SPpH-Dx-Au-Gd sample, thus demonstrating its potential in cancer diagnosis.