Chitosan-polyvinylpyrrolidone CoxFe3-xO4 (0.25 ≤ x ≤ 1) nanoparticles for hyperthermia applications.

Blends of chitosan (CS) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CoFe2O4) have the potential for use in several biomedical applications as drug delivery systems and for hyperthermia applications. Herein, we present a detailed study of the effect of chitosan and PVP on the structural, magnetic and specific absorption rate (SAR) properties of CoxFe3-xO4 (x = 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00) as an effective heat nanomediator for hyperthermia. Structural characterization was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Magnetic properties as a function of the Co2+ content were studied using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) at room temperature. Hyperthermia investigations were performed at 454 ±â€¯20 kHz with a magnetic field amplitude of 5.5 mT. CS-PVP coated nanoparticles at x = 1.00 show a maximum SAR of 386 W/g, while bare nanoparticles show a SAR of 270 W/g. The advantage of the designed nanoparticles coated system lies in the fact that the versatile blending of chitosan and PVP enhance the SAR properties for hyperthermia of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles and provide biocompatibility and stability to the samples.