Iron filled carbon nanotubes for bio-applications

One of the most interesting bio-applications of nanoparticles refers to as "magnetic fluid hyperthermia" (MFH), i.e. a controlled heating of tumor tissue. In the MFH therapy, magnetic nanoparticles are infiltrated in deep tumor tissue and inductively heated by applying alternating current magnetic fields. The biggest challenge of MFH therapy is the temperature control for which fibre-optic thermometers should be inserted into a tumor. A potential way to overcome this problem seems to be application of carbon nanotubes filled with iron which could provide in-situ temperature controlling. Therefore, the synthesis routes of iron filled single-walled carbon nanotubes (Fe-SWCNT) and iron filled multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Fe-MWCNT) has been presented. These two types of nanostructures were prepared via wet chemistry technique and by in situ single step chemical vapour deposition for Fe-SWCNT and Fe-MWCNT, respectively. The samples were examined by means of transmission electron microscopy, in bright and dark field images modes, and X-ray diffraction.