A ferrofluid based on Fe67.2Cr12.5Nb0.3B20 magnetic particles with a low Curie temperature was prepared. The particles, most of which had dimensions under 60 nm, were dispersed in a calcium gluconate solution, leading to a stable ferrofluid. The obtained ferrofluid had a magnetization of 0.04 to 0.17 emu/cm3, depending on the particles' concentration, and a viscosity that increased nonlinearly with the applied magnetic field. The ferrofluid appeared to be biocompatible, as it showed low cytotoxicity, even at high concentrations and for long intervals of co-incubation with human cells, demonstrating a good potential to be used for cancer therapies through magnetic hyperthermia as well as magneto-mechanical actuation.
Keywords: biocompatibility; ferrofluid; magnetic hyperthermia; magneto-mechanical effect.