Nanoarchitectonics and properties of sol-gel-derived bioactive glasses containing maghemite@ZnO core-shell nanoparticles

This study comprehensively examined the structural, magnetic, hemocompatibility, and bioactivity properties of magnetic bioactive glass particles embedded with zinc oxide-coated superparamagnetic maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3@ZnO) nanoparticles. Bioactive glass particles with varying concentrations of maghemite (2, 5, 10, and 20 wt%) were synthesized using the sol-gel method. The particles ranged in size from 6.83 mu m to 14.5 mu m, with size decreasing as maghemite content increased. The saturation magnetization values were 1.31 emu/g and 2.74 emu/g for the lowest and highest maghemite concentrations, respectively, indicating superparamagnetic behavior. Hydroxyapatite formation on the glass surfaces diminished with increased maghemite content, but hemocompatibility tests showed no significant hemolytic activity at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. The inclusion of gamma-Fe2O3@ZnO nanoparticles significantly enhanced the gamma radiation attenuation properties of the bioactive glasses, particularly at higher maghemite concentrations. In conclusion, gamma-Fe2O3@ZnO-enriched bioactive glasses exhibit promising potential for biomedical applications, offering a balance between magnetic functionality, bioactivity, and radiation shielding. Future research will focus on optimizing nanoparticle concentrations and surface modifications to enhance their multifunctionality.