Dextran coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles produced by microfluidic process

Dextran coated biocompatible water-based magnetite (Fe3O4) nanostructured media was produced via microfluidic process at various flow rates. The influences of dextran molecular weight on the magnetite particle size and magnetic property of nano fluid were investigated. Magnetite produced at flow rate of 0.04 mL/s showed uniform particle size distribution with average size 10 nm and saturation magnetization (Ms) up to 60 emu/g. The X-ray diffraction pattern indicates pure phase of Fe3O4 as-synthesized nanoparticles with high crystallinity. Zero Field Cooled and Field Cooled measurements indicated a superparamagnetic nature of as synthesized particles with a low blocking temperature that varies by the amount of dextran introduced in the mixture. The Specific Power Absorption (SPA) value obtained of up to 130 W/g shows that the magnetite–dextran nanostructured fluid appears to be a promising active media for the local magnetic hyperthermia for cancer therapy.