Influence of SPION Surface Coating on Magnetic Properties and Theranostic Profile

This study aimed to develop multifunctional nanoplatforms for both cancer imaging and therapy using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). Two distinct synthetic methods, reduction-precipitation (MR/P) and co-precipitation at controlled pH (MpH), were explored, including the assessment of the coating's influence, namely dextran and gold, on their magnetic properties. These SPIONs were further functionalized with gadolinium to act as dual T1/T2 contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Parameters such as size, stability, morphology, and magnetic behavior were evaluated by a detailed characterization analysis. To assess their efficacy in imaging and therapy, relaxivity and hyperthermia experiments were performed, respectively. The results revealed that both synthetic methods lead to SPIONs with similar average size, 9 nm. Mössbauer spectroscopy indicated that samples obtained from MR/P consist of approximately 11-13% of Fe present in magnetite, while samples obtained from MpH have higher contents of 33-45%. Despite coating and functionalization, all samples exhibited superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature. Hyperthermia experiments showed increased SAR values with higher magnetic field intensity and frequency. Moreover, the relaxivity studies suggested potential dual T1/T2 contrast agent capabilities for the coated SPpH-Dx-Au-Gd sample, thus demonstrating its potential in cancer diagnosis.

Alkoxy-Bridged Dicopper(II) Cores Meet Tetracyanonickelate Linkers: Structural, Magnetic, and Theoretical Investigation of Cu/Ni Coordination Polymers

Two heterometallic Cu(II)/Ni(II) coordination polymers, [Cu2(Hbdea)2Ni(CN)4]n (1) and [Cu2(dmea)2Ni(CN)4]n·nH2O (2), were successfully self-assembled in water by reacting Cu(II) nitrate with H2bdea (N-butyldiethanolamine) and Hdmea (N,N-dimethylethanolamine) in the presence of sodium hydroxide and [Ni(CN)4]2-. These new coordination polymers were investigated by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction and fully characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, elemental analysis, variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements, and theoretical DFT and CASSCF calculations. Despite differences in crystal systems, in both compounds, each dinuclear building block [Cu2(μ-aminopolyalcoholate)2]2+ is bridged by diamagnetic [Ni(CN)4]2- linkers, resulting in 1D (1) or 2D (2) metal-organic architectures. Experimental magnetic studies show that both compounds display strong antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -602.1 cm-1 for 1 and -151 cm-1 for 2) between Cu(II) ions within the dimers mediated by the μ-O-alkoxo bridges. These results are corroborated by the broken symmetry DFT studies, which also provide further insight into the electronic structures of copper dimeric units. By reporting a facile self-assembly synthetic protocol, this study can be a model to widen a still limited family of heterometallic Cu/Ni coordination polymer materials with different functional properties.

Investigation of Charge-Ordered Barium Iron Fluorides with One-Dimensional Structural Diversity and Complex Magnetic Interactions

Three mixed-valence barium iron fluorides, Ba7Fe7F34, Ba2Fe2F9, and BaFe2F7, were prepared through hydrothermal redox reactions. The characteristic structures of these compounds feature diverse distributions of FeIIF6 octahedra and FeIIIF6 groups. Ba7Fe7F34 contained one-dimensional infinite ∞[FeIIFeIII6F34]14- double chains, comprising cis corner-sharing octahedra along the b direction; Ba2Fe2F9 contained one-dimensional ∞[Fe2F9]4- double chains, consisting of cis corner-sharing octahedra along the chain (a-axis direction) and trans corner-sharing octahedra vertical to the chain, while BaFe2F7 revealed three-dimensional (3D) frameworks that consist of isolated edge-sharing dinuclear FeII2F10 units linked via corners by FeIIIF6 octahedra. Magnetization and Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements revealed that Ba7Fe7F34 exhibits an antiferromagnetic phase transition at ∼11 K, where ferrimagnetic ∞[FeIIFeIII6F34]14- double chains are arranged in a paralleling manner, while Ba2Fe2F9 shows canted antiferromagnetic ordering at ∼32.5 K, leading to noncollinear spin ordering.

Flux Growth, Crystal Structure, and Chemical Bonding of Yb2PdGe3, an AlB2 Superstructure within the Rare-Earth Series

The complete structure revision of the RE₂PdGe₃ (RE = rare-earth metal) series revealed that Yb₂PdGe₃ is the only AlB₂ ordered superstructure. Good-quality single crystals of this compound were successfully grown from molten indium flux, enabling accurate single-crystal investigations. Yb₂PdGe₃ crystallizes with the Ce₂CoSi₃-type structure in the hexagonal space group P6/mmm (no. 191) with lattice parameters a = 8.468(1) Å and c = 4.0747(7) Å. This structure is a four-order derivative of AlB₂, composed of planar _∞²[PdGe₃] honeycomb layers spaced by Yb species, located at the center of Ge₆ and Ge₄Pd₂ hexagons. A superconducting transition is observed below the critical temperature of 4 K. A divalent state of Yb is deduced from magnetic susceptibility measurements below room temperature, which indicate an almost nonmagnetic behavior. A charge transfer from Yb to Pd and Ge was evidenced by the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) effective charges; polar four-atomic Ge-Pd/Yb and two-atomic Pd-Yb bonds were observed from the ELI-D (electron localizability indicator), partial ELI-D, and ELI-D/QTAIM intersections. The bonding interactions between Ge atoms within regular Ge₆ hexagons are found to be intermediate between single bonds, as in elemental Ge, and higher-order bonds in the hypothetic Ge₆H₆ and Ge₆^6- aromatic molecules.

Enhancing SIM behaviour in a mononuclear tetrahedral [Co(N,N'-2-iminopyrrolyl)2] complex

A new homoleptic Co(II) complex bearing two highly sterically congested 2-formiminopyrrolyl N,N'-chelating ligands is reported, displaying slow relaxation of the magnetisation at zero static (DC) field. This compound shows a large value for the zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameter D of -42.6(4) cm^-1 leading to a spin-reversal energy barrier U_eff of 85 cm^-1.

Bilayer conducting salts with polymeric anions

Five new salts of 5-cyanobenzene-ethylenedithio-tetrathiafulvalene (CNB-EDT-TTF), with general formula (CNB-EDT-TTF)4A, and anions A= Ag(CN)2 (1), Ag(CN)2•H2O (2), Ag2(CN)3 (3), Ag(SCN)2 (4) and Hg2(SCN)5 (5), were prepared by electrocrystallisation and characterised...

Single-ion magnet behaviour in homoleptic Co(ii) complexes bearing 2-iminopyrrolyl ligands

Four-coordinate distorted tetrahedral bis(2-iminopyrrolyl)cobalt(ii) complexes behave as Single-Ion Magnets (SIMs) in the absence of an external magnetic field.

Multifunctionality of the [C2mim][Ln(fod)4] series (Ln = Nd–Tm except Pm): magnetic, luminescence and thermochemical studies

The [C2mim][Ln(fod)4] series presents a rare and reversible polymorphism, NIR and visible emission as well as SMM behavior. The varieties of physical behaviors make these compounds suitable for potential technological and/or biomedical applications.

Mössbauer effect using 57Fe-ferrabisdicarbollide ([o-57FESAN]-): a glance into the potential of a low-dose approach for glioblastoma radiotherapy

Although a variety of cancers is initially susceptible to chemotherapy, they eventually develop multi-drug resistance. To overcome this situation, more effective and selective treatments are necessary by using anti-tumour agents...

What Is Driving the Growth of Inorganic Glass in Smart Materials and Opto-Electronic Devices?

Inorganic glass is a transparent functional material and one of the few materials that keeps leading innovation. In the last decades, inorganic glass was integrated into opto-electronic devices such as optical fibers, semiconductors, solar cells, transparent photovoltaic devices, or photonic crystals and in smart materials applications such as environmental, pharmaceutical, and medical sensors, reinforcing its influence as an essential material and providing potential growth opportunities for the market. Moreover, inorganic glass is the only material that is 100% recyclable and can incorporate other industrial offscourings and/or residues to be used as raw materials. Over time, inorganic glass experienced an extensive range of fabrication techniques, from traditional melting-quenching (with an immense diversity of protocols) to chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), and wet chemistry routes as sol-gel and solvothermal processes. Additive manufacturing (AM) was recently added to the list. Bulks (3D), thin/thick films (2D), flexible glass (2D), powders (2D), fibers (1D), and nanoparticles (NPs) (0D) are examples of possible inorganic glass architectures able to integrate smart materials and opto-electronic devices, leading to added-value products in a wide range of markets. In this review, selected examples of inorganic glasses in areas such as: (i) magnetic glass materials, (ii) solar cells and transparent photovoltaic devices, (iii) photonic crystal, and (iv) smart materials are presented and discussed.

Spectroscopic Determination of the Electronic Structure of a Uranium Single-Ion Magnet

Early actinide ions have large spin-orbit couplings and crystal field interactions, leading to large anisotropies. The success in using actinides as single-molecule magnets has so far been modest, underlining the need for rational strategies. Indeed, the electronic structure of actinide single-molecule magnets and its relation to their magnetic properties remains largely unexplored. A uranium(III) single-molecule magnet, [U^III {SiMe₂ NPh}₃ -tacn)(OPPh₃ )] (tacn=1,4,7-triazacyclononane), has been investigated by means of a combination of magnetic, spectroscopic and theoretical methods to elucidate the origin of its static and dynamic magnetic properties.

Structural relations in (1 : 1) and (2 : 1) cyanobenzene-ethylenedithio-TTF radical salts; the role of CN⋯H interactions

Radical cation salts of 4-CNB-EDT-TTF presenting CN⋯H pairing interactions, semiconducting properties and chains of antiferromagnetically coupled donor dimers.

Hydroboration of terminal olefins with pinacolborane catalyzed by new 2-iminopyrrolyl iron(ii) complexes

New Fe(ii) mono(2-iminopyrrolyl) complexes catalyze the hydroboration of terminal olefins with pinacolborane via a borane oxidative addition pathway.

A magnetic study of a layered lanthanide hydroxide family: Ln8(OH)20Cl4·nH2O (Ln = Tb, Ho, Er)

Three layered lanthanide hydroxides (LLHs), with the general formula Ln8(OH)20Cl4·nH2O (Ln = Tb (1), Ho (2), Er (3)), were prepared and magnetically characterized both as pure compounds and diluted within a yttrium diamagnetic matrix, LYH : xLn, LYH : 0.044Tb (1'), LYH : 0.045Ho (2'), and LYH : 0.065Er (3'). This study was complemented with theoretical calculations in order to understand the electronic configuration and the contributions to the slow relaxation behavior. In the pure compounds dominant 3D ferromagnetic interactions are observed, with a small magnetization hysteresis at 1.8 K for 1, while the magnetically diluted solid solutions display slow relaxation of magnetization at low temperatures.

Hydroboration of Terminal Olefins with Pinacolborane Catalyzed by New Mono(2-Iminopyrrolyl) Cobalt(II) Complexes

The 5-substituted 2-aryliminopyrrolyl ligand precursors of the type 5-R-2-[ N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)formimino]-1 H-pyrrole (R = 2,6-Me₂-C₆H₃ (1a), 2,4,6-ⁱPr₃-C₆H₂ (1b), 2,4,6-Ph₃-C₆H₃ (1c; reported in this work), anthracen-9-yl (1d), CPh₃ (1e; reported in this work)) were treated with K[N(SiMe₃)₂] in toluene to yield the respective 5-R-2-[ N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)formimino]pyrrolyl potassium salts 2a-e in high yields. The paramagnetic 15-electron Co(II) complexes of the type [Co{κ² N,N'-5-R-NC₄H₂-2-C(H)═N(2,6-ⁱPr₂-C₆H₃)}(Py)Cl] (3a-e; Py = pyridine) were prepared by salt metathesis of CoCl₂(Py)₄ with the respective potassium salts 2a-e in moderate to good yields. When the CoCl₂(THF)_1.5 precursor was combined with the in situ prepared sodium salt of ligand precursor 1b, the trinuclear complex [Co{κ² N, N'-5-(2,4,6-ⁱPr₃-C₆H₂)-NC₄H₂-2-C(H)═N(2,6-ⁱPr₂-C₆H₃)}(μ-Cl)]₂[(μ-Cl)₂Co(THF)₂] (4) was obtained in high yields. Complexes 3a-e have high-spin electronic configurations both in solution and in the solid state. X-ray diffraction studies of complexes 3a,e confirmed distorted tetrahedral coordination geometries. Complex 4, on the other hand, is a linear trinuclear Co(II)-Co(II)-Co(II) complex with two terminal distorted tetrahedral four-coordinate sites and a central octahedral six-coordinate site, all in the high-spin state, S = 3/2, as confirmed by the magnetization measurements and DFT calculations. Solid-state magnetic measurements in both complexes 3a and 4 point to paramagnetic behavior with a significant contribution of spin-orbit coupling. Additionally, intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling of the adjacent cobalt atoms is observed in 4. The Co(II) family 3a-d, on activation with K(HBEt₃), catalyzed the hydroboration of several α-olefins with pinacolborane, in good to high yields (50-80%). This system almost exclusively yielded the anti-Markovnikov (a-Mk) addition product, except when styrene was used, where the selectivity in the Markovnikov (Mk) product increased with increasing steric bulkiness of the 5-R-2-iminopyrrolyl substituent, with the a-Mk:Mk molar ratio varying from 2.33:1 (3a, R = 2,6-Me₂-C₆H₃) to 0.75:1 (3c, R = 2,4,6-Ph₃-C₆H₃). Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the activation by K(HBEt₃) gave rise to a Co(I) species, the catalyst system likely following an oxidative addition pathway.

Magnetic and structural correlations in [Fe(nsal2trien)] salts: the role of cation–anion interactions in the spin crossover phenomenon

Cation–anion and cation–solvent–anion interactions determine the SCO behaviour of six [Fe^III(nsal₂trien)] salts.

Synthesis, structure and physical properties of a low dimensional compound

The crystal structure of (μ₃-oxo)hexakis(cyanoacetato-κO,O')(cyanoacetato-κO)diaquatriiron(III) cyanoacetic acid shows the formation of trinuclear complexes in a hydrogen-bond network that bonds all the molecules in a 3D arrangement. For this complex, within whose clusters the whole magnetic interaction takes place, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy shows that the Fe cations are in the S=5/2 state in the temperature range 2-295K. The asymmetric broadening of the absorption peaks below 80K is consistent with strong antiferromagnetic interactions between the metal spins. The magnetization measurements also show the antiferromagnetic character of the spin ensemble and an S_T=1/2 magnetic ground state typical of triangular systems with similar J between Fe-Fe pairs.

Gold and nickel alkyl substituted bis-thiophenedithiolene complexes: anionic and neutral forms

The effect of substituents on the magnetic and transport properties is assessed for Au and Ni alkyl substituted bisthiophenedithiolates.

Magnetic properties of binary and ternary mixed metal oxides NiFe2O4 and Zn0.5Ni0.5Fe2O4 doped with rare earths by sol—gel synthesis

The spinel-type ferrites NiFe

A Mononuclear Uranium(IV) Single-Molecule Magnet with an Azobenzene Radical Ligand

A tetravalent uranium compound with a radical azobenzene ligand, namely, [{(SiMe2 NPh)3 -tacn}U(IV) (η(2) -N2 Ph2 (.) )] (2), was obtained by one-electron reduction of azobenzene by the trivalent uranium compound [U(III) {(SiMe2 NPh)3 -tacn}] (1). Compound 2 was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and (1) H NMR, IR, and UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy. The magnetic properties of 2 and precursor 1 were studied by static magnetization and ac susceptibility measurements, which for the former revealed single-molecule magnet behaviour for the first time in a mononuclear U(IV) compound, whereas trivalent uranium compound 1 does not exhibit slow relaxation of the magnetization at low temperatures. A first approximation to the magnetic behaviour of these compounds was attempted by combining an effective electrostatic model with a phenomenological approach using the full single-ion Hamiltonian.

Thermal and magnetic properties of iron oxide colloids: influence of surfactants

Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have been extensively studied in the last few decades for several biomedical applications such as magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic drug delivery and hyperthermia. Hyperthermia is a technique used for cancer treatment which consists in inducing a temperature of about 41-45 °C in cancerous cells through magnetic NPs and an external magnetic field. Chemical precipitation was used to produce iron oxide NPs 9 nm in size coated with oleic acid and trisodium citrate. The influence of both stabilizers on the heating ability and in vitro cytotoxicity of the produced iron oxide NPs was assessed. Physicochemical characterization of the samples confirmed that the used surfactants do not change the particles' average size and that the presence of the surfactants has a strong effect on both the magnetic properties and the heating ability. The heating ability of Fe3O4 NPs shows a proportional increase with the increase of iron concentration, although when coated with trisodium citrate or oleic acid the heating ability decreases. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that both pristine and trisodium citrate Fe3O4 samples do not reduce cell viability. However, oleic acid Fe3O4 strongly reduces cell viability, more drastically in the SaOs-2 cell line. The produced iron oxide NPs are suitable for cancer hyperthermia treatment and the use of a surfactant brings great advantages concerning the dispersion of NPs, also allowing better control of the hyperthermia temperature.

Slow magnetic relaxation mechanisms in erbium SIMs

The magnetic properties of two similar Er(3+) complexes have been investigated. [Er(tpm)3(bipy)] (Htpm = 1,1,1-trifluoro-5,5-dimethyl-2,4-hexanedione and bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) displays thermally activated slow relaxation of magnetisation under a zero direct-current (DC) field. Under an applied HDC field of 1000 G, [Er(tpm)3(bipy)] exhibits two thermally activated processes with energy barriers of 9 and 40 K, while [Er(tfa)3(bipy)] (Htfa = 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-furyl)-1,3-butanedione) shows only one activated process with a barrier of 15 K. Both compounds are luminescent in the solid state, emitting in the near IR region.

Slow magnetic relaxation and photoluminescent properties of a highly coordinated erbium(iii) complex with dibenzoylmethane and 2,2′-bipyridine

The luminescence and magnetic properties of a bifunctional highly coordinated Er(iii) β-diketonate complex are presented, together with its synthesis and structure.

Zero-field slow magnetic relaxation in a uranium(iii) complex with a radical ligand

Single-molecule-magnet behaviour in [U(Tp^Me2)₂(bipy˙)], a U(iii) complex with a radical bipyridine ligand, having magnetic contributions from both the metal and the ligand.

Effects of surfactants on the magnetic properties of iron oxide colloids

Iron oxide nanoparticles are having been extensively investigated for several biomedical applications such as hyperthermia and magnetic resonance imaging. However, one of the biggest problems of these nanoparticles is their aggregation. Taking this into account, in this study the influence of three different surfactants (oleic acid, sodium citrate and Triton X-100) each one with various concentrations in the colloidal solutions stability was analyzed by using a rapid and facile method, the variation in the optical absorbance along time. The synthesized nanoparticles through chemical precipitation showed an average size of 9 nm and a narrow size distribution. X-ray diffraction pattern and Fourier Transform Infrared analysis confirmed the presence of pure magnetite. SQUID measurements showed superparamagnetic properties with a blocking temperature around 155 K. In addition it was observed that neither sodium citrate nor Triton X-100 influences the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles. On the other hand, oleic acid in a concentration of 64 mM decreases the saturation magnetization from 67 to 45 emu/g. Oleic acid exhibits a good performance as stabilizer of the iron oxide nanoparticles in an aqueous solution for 24h, for concentrations that lead to the formation of the double layer.

catena-Poly[[(1,10-phenanthroline-κ(2) N,N')copper(II)]-μ-2,2'-iminodibenzoato-κ(4) O,O':O'',O''']

The structure of the title compound, [Cu(C₁₄H₉NO₄)(C₁₂H₈N₂)]_n, consists of zigzag polymeric chains along the c axis. The asymmetric unit contains one Cu^II atom which is coordinated by one 2,2′-imino­dibenzoate ligand and a one phenanthroline unit. Two intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds occur. The supra­molecular structure is characterized by weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking inter­actions, forming a three-dimensional supramolecular network. The shortest centroid–centroid distances between neighbouring phenanthroline aromatic rings and 2,2′-imino­dibenzoate rings are 3.684 (1) and 3.640 Å, respectively. The shortest intra­chain Cu⋯Cu distance is 7.2885 (9) and the shortest Cu⋯Cu distance between Cu atoms in different chains is 7.1103 (6) Å.

Ferromagnetic order in aged Co-doped TiO2 anatase nanopowders

This paper reports on the ferromagnetic properties of aged Ti(1-x)CoxO(2-delta) anatase nanopowders with different Co contents (0.03 < or = x < or = 0.10). It is shown for the first time that aged Co:TiO2 anatase samples retain rather high values of magnetization (M), remanence (Mr) and coercivity (Hc) which provide strong evidence for a preserved long-range ferromagnetic order. Room temperature M, Mr and Hc values were measured in the ranges of [0.05, 0.79] microB/Co, [0.044, 0.096] microB/Co and [366.7,494.8]Oe, respectively, which are in the same range as in general reported either for newly prepared thin films or nanoparticles.

Diaqua-(6-bromo-picolinato-κN,O)(nitrato-κO,O)copper(II)

In the monomeric title complex, [Cu(C₆H₃BrNO₂)(NO₃)(H₂O)₂], the Cu^II ion is coordinated by a bidentate 6-bromo­picolinate ion, one nitrate ion and two water mol­ecules in a geometry inter­mediate between five- and six-coordinate. Conventional O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the complex mol­ecules, forming layers parallel to the ab plane.