Ferromagnetic resonance-based heat dissipation in dumbbell-like Au–Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) holds promise for heating magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in cancer therapy, especially for rapidly heating MNPs. This study aims to enhance the FMR-based heating efficiency of multifunctional hybrid gold and iron oxide nanoparticles (Au-Fe3O4 NPs) as theranostic agents. We experimentally investigate the FMR-based heating properties of newly developed dumbbell-like Au-Fe3O4 NPs, which feature ∼5 nm gold and 15 nm iron oxide components, in comparison to our previously developed Au-coated Fe3O4 NPs (Fe3O4 core ∼5.2 nm, Au shell thickness ∼0.5 nm). For comparison, we also synthesize pure Fe3O4 NPs (∼11 nm) under the same experimental conditions as the dumbbell-like Au-Fe3O4 NPs but without 5 nm Au seeds. Temperature measurements are taken at various DC fields (HDC = 0‒1600 Oe) under a radiofrequency (RF) field (fAC = 4 GHz, HAC = 1.265 Oe) for ∼13s. The results reveal a rapid temperature rise during RF field ON, followed by a decline upon RF field OFF. Remarkably, dumbbell-like Au-Fe3O4 NPs achieve a peak temperature increase of 23.4 °C, corresponding to a heating rate of 1.73 °C/s at HDC = 400 Oe, surpassing the combined values of ∼11 nm Fe3O4 NPs (11.0 °C, i.e., 0.83 °C/s at HDC = 1000 Oe) and ∼5 nm Au NPs (3.5 °C). Comparing these results to our previously developed Au-coated Fe3O4 NPs, which achieved a heating rate of 1.29 °C/s (temperature rise 16.9 °C) under HDC = 1200 Oe with an RF field at fAC = 4 GHz and a significantly higher HAC = 4 Oe (i.e. for HAC = 1.265 Oe, the estimated heating rate was 0.129 °C/s with a temperature rise of 1.69 °C), the dumbbell-shaped Au-Fe3O4 NPs demonstrate a substantially higher temperature increase by 13.4 times. These findings highlight the exceptional potential of dumbbell-shaped Au-Fe3O4 NPs for application in magnetic hyperthermia.