Mechanosynthesis as a Simple Method to Obtain a Magnetic Composite (Activated Carbon/Fe3O4) for Hyperthermia Treatment

A large number of magnetic nanomaterials have been studied for their hyperthermic potential, such as iron oxide based materials. These are embedded in different matrices to improve their properties. In this paper magnetite was synthesized by the coprecipitation method and an activated carbon/magnetite composite was obtained by mechanosynthesis (400 rpm, 3 h). The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), IR-FT spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, composite heating curves as well as hemolysis tests were performed. The composite showed a superparamagnetic behavior due to its low coercivity index (8.92 Oe) and a high saturation magnetization (40.12 emu/g). SEM images showed that the magnetite was observed on the surface of activated carbon and also the IR-FT spectra indicated that oxygenated groups on the activated carbon surface were responsible for the anchoring of magnetite in the surface, with particle sizes between 9 and 14 nm. Heating results indicated that a composite mass of 18 mg reach a temperature of 45.6°C in a low frequency magnetic field (10.2 kA and 200 kHz). Hemolysis tests indicated that the composite is a non-hemolytic material (4.7% hemolysis). These results demonstrate that the material can be used in magnetic hyperthermia techniques for cancer treatment.