Nickel ferrite nanoparticles for simultaneous use in magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic fluid hyperthermia

We demonstrate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement and ac-field induced heating abilities of tetramethylammoniumhydroxide (TMAH) coated nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) nanoparticles and discuss the underlying physical mechanisms. The structural characterization revealed that the NiFe₂O₄ particles synthesized with a modified co-precipitation method have a very narrow size distribution with a 4.4 nm magnetic core and 15 nm hydrodynamic diameters, with relatively small fraction of agglomerates. The as-prepared particles presented superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature. The in vitro hyperthermia experiments, performed in ac-field conditions under human tolerable limits, showed that the suspensions of the synthesized nanoparticles exhibit a maximum specific absorption rate (SAR) value of 11 W/g. The ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry measurements indicated the suspensions of NiFe₂O₄ have a transverse-to-longitudinal relaxivity ratio r₂/r₁ greater than two, as required for superparamagnetic MRI contrast agents. On the basis of the parameters obtained from the magnetic measurements, by comparing the relevant theoretical models with the experimental results, we found that the presence of agglomerates, and particularly the interactions within the agglomerated nanoparticles, caused a significant increase in the hyperthermia and MRI efficiencies. On the other hand, from an applicative point of view, both the MRI contrast enhancement and the heating capabilities allow the simultaneous use of nickelferrites in diagnostic and therapeutic applications as theranostic agents.