Synthesis and Characterization of Carboxymethylcellulose-Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents for THz Spectroscopy with Applications in Oncology

Abstract

This paper describes a process to obtain magnetite functionalized with carboxymethylcellulose via coprecipitation by means of a preliminary stabilization of magnetite in citric acid. The magnetite assemblies successfully passed in vitro and in vivo tests of bio-compatibility. The measured values for the dielectric loss factor are remarkably high, a prerequisite for the assemblies’ potential use as contrast agents. Broadband THz spectroscopy analysis was performed to identify the most relevant frequency bands (here, 3.2–4 THz) where the signal difference between normal cells and cancer cells is relevant for the particles’ potential use as contrast agents for THz imaging, with applications in oncology.

Keywords

• magnetite functionalized with carboxymethylcellulose
• coprecipitation process
• in vitro and in vivo tests of bio-compatibility
• dielectric features
• contrast agents
• broadband THz spectroscopy