Synthesis and characterization of wet chemically derived magnetite-hap hybrid nanoparticles

A new type of hyperthermia or magnetic resonance imaging materials with bone-bonding ability was explored within the framework of magnetic-bone mineral composite ceramics. That is, hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles, hybridized with ferrous (Fe²⁺) and ferric (Fe³⁺) ions (Fe(II) and Fe(III)), were synthesized through the wet chemical procedure, and characterized in terms of crystal structures, magnetic properties and protein adsorption properties. The as-synthesized particles derived from precursor solutions with FeCl₂ consisted of hydroxyapatite (JCPDS 09-0432) (20-30 nm in size) and magnetite (JCPDS 19-0629) (2-5 nm in size). They showed super-paramagnetic behavior, yet their saturation magnetization increased with the content of Fe(II) in the solutions up to 4.3 emu/g. From TEM observations, the HAp particles were rod-like, by which the magnetite particles that seemed spherical rather than showing cubic morphology, were surrounded. The particles from the solutions with Fe(III) gave only HAp, and hence Fe(III) was considered to form an amorphous phase. Moreover, Fe(III) incorporation suppressed HAp crystal growth.