Preparation of carbon-coated iron nanofluid and its application in radiofrequency ablation

Carbon-coated iron nanoparticles (Fe@C CCINs) were synthesized by carbon arc discharge method and were studied via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that CCINs have good core-shell structure and are in size of 40-50 nm. Also, carbon-coated iron nanofluid (CCINs-nanofluid) was prepared via two-step method by dispersing as-prepared CCINs and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) into physiological saline. Its dispersion stability and thermal conductivity were detected by gravity sedimentation method and Hotdisk thermal constant analyzer respectively. The results indicated that CCINs-nanofluid possesses good dispersity and stability. Moreover, CCINs-nanofluid showed enhanced thermal conductivity compared with its base fluid physiological saline. The enhancement of thermal conductivity even reaches 41%. Additionally, CCINs-nanofluid injection aided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was carried out. The relation between tissue temperature and ablation time revealed that by injecting CCINs-nanofluid into pork livers during RFA, target tissue temperatures were less than 100°C. Dissected pork livers showed that there was little or no tissue charring around the ablation probe. Results of ablation area calculation showed that the ablation area of CCINs-nanofluid injection aided RFA was 67% larger than that of saline injection aided RFA, indicating that a larger-volume tumor tissue necrosis at a single session can be achieved by CCINs-nanofluid injection aided RFA.