Synthesis and Characterization of Carboxymethylcellulose-Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents for THz Spectroscopy with Applications in Oncology

This paper describes a process to obtain magnetite functionalized with carboxymethylcellulose via coprecipitation by means of a preliminary stabilization of magnetite in citric acid. The magnetite assemblies successfully passed in vitro and in vivo tests of bio-compatibility. The measured values for the dielectric loss factor are remarkably high, a prerequisite for the assemblies' potential use as contrast agents. Broadband THz spectroscopy analysis was performed to identify the most relevant frequency bands (here, 3.2-4 THz) where the signal difference between normal cells and cancer cells is relevant for the particles' potential use as contrast agents for THz imaging, with applications in oncology.