Synthesis and Evaluation of Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles with Dual MRI Contrast Properties

Abdollahzadeh Parsa, Mehdi; Rahmati, Fereshteh; Molaabasi, Fatemeh; Hosseinkhani, Saman

doi:10.48311/biot.2025.103452.0

Synthesis and Evaluation of Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles with Dual MRI Contrast Properties

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

Mehdi Abdollahzadeh Parsa ¹

Fereshteh Rahmati ¹

Fatemeh Molaabasi ²

Saman Hosseinkhani ³

¹ Department of Biochemistry, NT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

² Medical Nanotechnology Group, Department of Interdisciplinary Technologies, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran 1517964311, Iran

³ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.48311/biot.2025.103452.0

Abstract

Ferrite nanoparticles showed an important role in enhancing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) image contrast because of their unique magnetic properties and potential to modulate water proton relaxation times. Their super-paramagnetic characterizations and biocompatibility provide high-sensitivity and high-precision imaging. In our study, cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized using the hydrothermal method and the structure and their characterizations were investigated. following phantom preparation, their effects on Tâ and Tâ in MRI were estimated. Elemental analysis (EDX) indicated that the nanoparticles comprised O (56.47%), Fe (27.89%), and Co (15.67%). The mean particle diameter was approximately 152â¯nm. FTIR spectroscopy revealed characteristic Fe–O and Co–O vibrational bands at 402.1â¯cmâ»¹ and 588.02â¯cmâ»¹, respectively, confirming the spinel crystal structure. UV-vis spectra showed metal-oxygen charge transfer 288 nm and d-d transitions (410, 495 nm), verifying the electronic properties. XRD analysis also presented pure spinel phase with characteristic (311), (400), and (440) peaks at 35.5°, 43.1°, and 62.76° (JCPDS 22-1086). This nanoparticle displayed a saturation magnetization of 28.18 emu/g and outstanding relaxivities (râ = 341.84, râ = 2367.3 mMâ»¹sâ»¹), validating a dual-contrast capability for both Tâ (positive) and Tâ (negative) weighted MRI imaging.

Keywords

Cobalt-ferrite magnetic nanoparticle

Dual T1 and T2 contrast agent

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Subjects