Journal of Materials Science, Vol.55, No.1, 319-336, 2020
A new generation of star polymer: magnetic aromatic polyamides with unique microscopic flower morphology and in vitro hyperthermia of cancer therapy
In this work, a novel magnetic nanocomposite based on aromatic polyamide as a statistical star polymer was designed, characterized and studied in hyperthermia process of cancer therapy. The polymerization reaction was carried out via surface modification of magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs) using polymerization process by phenylenediamine derivatives and terephthaloyl chloride. Various analytical techniques such as field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, thermogravimetric and vibrating-sample magnetometer analyses were used to confirm the structure of the prepared nanocomposite. A unique rose flower and sphere morphologies were observed by FE-SEM images by the result of polymerization process and fabrication of the synthetic polymeric strands on the surface of the modified Fe3O4 magnetic cores. The application of this novel magnetic nanocomposite was evaluated in hyperthermia process as a potential method for cancer therapy and its exposure to an external alternating magnetic field. The highest specific absorption rate measured for 0.5 mg/mL of a sample was 191.97 w g(-1), and the saturation magnetization value was 4.3 emu g(-1).