Magnetic and luminescence properties of bioactive glass nanoparticles for biomedical applications

This study explores the synthesis and characterization of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) coated with zinc (Zn) and/or europium (Eu) doped bioactive glass. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) confirmed spherical agglomerated morphology and core@shell structure, respectively. High-Resolution TEM (HR-TEM) revealed lattice fringe values consistent with the cubic magnetite phase. Magnetic property assessment showed stable superparamagnetic behavior with slight reductions in saturation magnetization (sigma s) after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of Eu-doped samples exhibited red emission, confirming Eu rare earth element incorporation and maintaining luminescence post-immersion in SBF. Upon the interaction with SBF, hydroxyapatite (HA) formation occurred on the nanoparticle surfaces, suggesting the bioactive nature of the nanoparticles. These findings suggest that the synthesized nanoparticles exhibit promising potential for biomedical applications, including imaging, and orthopedics, due to their bioactive, magnetic, and luminescent properties.