Magnetic α -Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ Heterostructure Nanorods: Fabrication and Cytotoxicity to A549 Cells.

The magnetic -Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ heterostructure nanorods were fabricated by an alcohol-solution direct combustion method. The influence of the calcination temperature on the composition and properties of the nanorods was investigated. When the calcination temperature was not greater than 400 °C, the magnetic -Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ heterostructure nanorods were obtained, and the saturation magnetization (Ms) of the magnetic -Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ heterostructure nanorods decreased with the calcination temperature increasing from 250 °C to 400 °C; when the calcination temperature was equal or greater than 450 °C, -Fe2O3 nanorods were obtained. In addition, the effects of nanorods' concentration, nanorods' constituent, incubation time and magnetic field on A549 cytotoxicity were investigated. The cytotoxicity of the heterostructure nanorods appeared time-dependent and concentration-dependent, and the magnetic field could enhance the cytotoxicity of nanorods to A549.