The microwave (MW)-assisted method for the synthesis of nanoparticles has been studied for a long time due to its rapid synthesis and lower consumption of energy, ultimately reducing cost. In this study, we synthesized for the first time, monodisperse iron-oxide nanocubes (IONCs) by MW-assisted method using an environmentally friendly precursor and organic solvents [1]. The cubic shape of iron-oxide nanoparticles provides superior magnetic properties over the spherical counterparts and, due to this, can be exploited in magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) applications to generate local heating effects under the influence of alternating magnetic fields (AMF) to kill cancer cells. However, IONCs synthesized in organic solvents must be transferred to water using polymers or ligands for solubility, dispersity, and to prevent agglomeration in biological fluids. Therefore, this study explored different coating strategies to transfer organic synthesized IONCs into water. This was done by coating the IONCs with different polymers and ligands, including dopamine-poly(isobutylene-alt-maleic anhydride)-poly(ethylene glycol), poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene), gallol-derived ligands, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. The coated IONCs in water were further characterized via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and agarose gel electrophoresis. The magnetic properties of the coated IONCs were also evaluated by conducting specific absorption rate (SAR) measurements. By comparing the SAR values of the differently coated IONCs, it emerges the critical role of the coatings on the magnetic heating efficiencies of the resulting nanoparticles, therefore suggesting the choice of the hydrophilic coating as a critical parameter to further optimize the magnetic hyperthermia treatment.

[1] Mekseriwattana W., et al. Advanced Functional Materials, 2024, 2413514. doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202413514.