APTES (3-aminopropyltriethoxy silane) functionalized MnFe2O4 nanoparticles: a potential material for magnetic fluid hyperthermia

Magnetic nanoparticles have the potential to be used for biomedical applications, specifically in painless curing of cancer. The primary objective of this article is to prepare 3-aminopropyltriethoxy silane (APTES) functionalized magnetic nanoparticles by using polyol synthesis method in order to use them for magnetic hyperthermia application. The obtained magnetic nanoparticles were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis techniques for structural, morphological and magnetic analysis. Structural analysis showed that the mean crystallite size of prepared nanoparticles was about 13 nm and magnetic study exhibited that the bare and functionalized nanoparticles were superparamagnetic at room temperature. Induction heating study was performed by applying external AC magnetic field of 167.6–335.2 Oe at a fixed frequency of 265 kHz to assess the feasibility for magnetic hyperthermia anticancer therapy. Maximum specific absorption rate 261.53 W g−1 has observed at 335.2 Oe (265 kHz) for APTES coated nanoparticles. Cell viability study revealed that APTES functionalized MnFe2O4 nanoparticles can be potential heating agent for cancer hyperthermia therapy as nanoparticles have almost no toxicity.