Synthesis of an efficient paramagnetic ZnFe2O4 agent for NIR-I/II responsive photothermal performance

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2023-03, Vol.936, p.168161, Article 168161
• Main Authors: Li, Xuejiao, Li, Bo, Li, Rui, Yao, Yunzhong, Fan, Na, Qi, Rui, Xu, Zilong, Cui, Weiwei, Xu, Huanyan, Shan, Lianwei, Liu, Xin, Dong, Limin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Near-infrared II responsive; Photothermal performance; Solvothermal method; ZnFe2O4
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.168161

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising alternative strategy to traditional cancer therapy. Photothermal agents (PTAs) in the second near-infrared (NIR) window (1000–1350 nm) hold excellent potential for enhanced PTT treatment of deep tumors compared with the first NIR window (780–1000 nm). Herein, paramagnetic ZnFe2O4 nanospheres with an average of 150 nm and defective structure were synthesized by a simple solvothermal method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV–vis–NIR spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectrum, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The photothermal mechanism and performance under bio-safe NIR-Ⅰ/Ⅱ laser irradiation have been discussed in detail. The samples represented good magnetic property and photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) of 64.64% (808 nm, 0.33 W cm−2) and 35.75% (1064 nm, 1 W cm−2), surpassing many previous nano-PTAs active in the NIR-Ⅰ/II region. This work provides a simple method to acquire clinical paramagnetic PTAs in bio-imaging mediated NIR-II photothermal therapy. [Display omitted] •Paramagnetic self-assembled ZnFe2O4 nanospheres fabricated by the solvothermal method.•Efficient photothermal performance under bio-safe NIR-I/II laser irradiation.•Potential application in MRI bio-imaging and NIR-II induced PTT.