Gram bean extract-mediated synthesis of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles for tuning the magneto-structural properties that influence the hyperthermia performance

A green synthesis of biocompatible magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (MNPs) using a combination of urea (U) and gram-bean extract (GBE, Cicer arietinum L.) is reported. The particle size of ∼13 nm and highly stable magnetite phase is observed for GBE-U mediated MNPs. On the other hand, the MNPs synthesized using either U or GBE shows larger particle size and uneven size distribution. Interestingly, the sample with particle size ∼13 nm shows optimum heat generation capacity (measured in specific absorption rate, i.e., SAR) near to the therapeutic temperature (43 °C) with least-variance. To investigate the influence of various factors such as variation in MNPs weight concentration (W_t), applied alternating magnetic field (AMF), saturation magnetization (M_s), magnetization rate (R_m), etc. on SAR, a multiple linear regression model (MLRM) is used. The study reveals a positive correlation of SAR with R_m and AMF values while the negative correlation with M_s and W_t. Ultimately, the present green synthesis is the affordable approach for preparing stable and tiny MNPs. Moreover, MLRM is found to be a useful theoretical tool for understanding the influence of MNPs on hyperthermia performance.