Ferromagnetic Cytocompatible Glass-Ceramic Porous Microspheres for Magnetic Hyperthermia Applications

Abstract

Highly porous, ferromagnetic glass-ceramic P40-Fe3O4 microspheres (125–212 µm) with enhanced cytocompatibility have been manufactured for the first time via a facile, rapid, single-stage flame spheroidization process. Dispersions of Fe3O4 and Ca2Fe2O5 domains (≈10 µm) embedded within P40 (40P2O5-16CaO-24MgO-20Na2O in mol%) phosphate-based glass matrices show evidence for remanent magnetization (0.2 Am2 kg−1) and provide for controlled induction heating to a constant level of 41.9 °C, making these materials highly appropriate for localized magnetic hyperthermia applications. Complementary, cytocompatibility investigations confirm the suitability of P40-Fe3O4 porous microspheres for biomedical applications. It is suggested that the flame-spheroidization process opens up new opportunities for the development of innovative synergistic biomaterials, toward bone-tissue regenerative applications.