Research Article

Tunable magnetic-luminescent Tb:SiO2@Fe3O4 nanoparticles for theranostic applications

Volume: 9 Number: 4 December 28, 2025
EN TR

Tunable magnetic-luminescent Tb:SiO2@Fe3O4 nanoparticles for theranostic applications

Abstract

Magnetic-luminescent Tb-doped SiO2@Fe3O4 core@shell nanoparticles were synthesized via a two-step approach and evaluated for biomedical applications. Photoluminescence (PL) analysis showed broad emissions from the SiO2 matrix and distinct Tb3+-related peaks at 543–621 nm, corresponding to 5D4-7Fj (j=5,4,3) transitions. Increasing Tb content led to enhanced PL intensity and crystallinity. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) confirmed superparamagnetic behavior, with high saturation magnetization values—45.53 emu/g for 1% and 36.93 emu/g for 3 mol. % Tb-doped samples—exceeding values reported in prior studies. The inverse relationship between Tb concentration and magnetization is attributed to 3d–4f orbital interactions and enhanced magneto-crystalline anisotropy. These multifunctional nanoparticles, combining high magnetic responsiveness and optical traceability, demonstrate strong potential for use in non-invasive, image-guided therapies, marking a significant advancement in multifunctional nanomedicine

Keywords

References

  1. Khan, L.U., Muraca, D., Brito, H.F., Moscoso-Londono, O., Felinto, M.C.F.C., Pirota, K.R., Teotonio, E.E.S., & Malta, O.L. (2016). Optical and magnetic nanocomposites containing Fe3O4@SiO2 grafted with Eu3+ and Tb3+ complexes. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 686, 453–466. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.06.009](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.06.009)
  2. Curcio, A., Silva, A.K.A., Cabana, S., Espinosa, A., Baptiste, B., Menguy, N., Wilhelm, C., & Abou-Hassan, A., (2019). Iron oxide nanoflowers@CuS hybrids for cancer tri-therapy: Interplay of photothermal therapy, magnetic hyperthermia and photodynamic therapy, Theranostics, 9(5), 1288–1302. [https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.30238](https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.30238)
  3. Sabale, S., Jadhav, V., Mane-Gavade, S., & Yu, X.Y., (2019). Superparamagnetic CoFe2O4@Au with high specific absorption rate and intrinsic loss power for magnetic fluid hyperthermia applications, Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 32, 719–725. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s40195-018-0830-5](https://doi.org/10.1007/s40195-018-0830-5)
  4. Heikham F. D., & Thiyam, D. S., (2017). Fabrication of spherical magneto-luminescent hybrid MnFe2O4@YPO4:5Eu3+ nanoparticles for hyperthermia application, ChemistrySelect, 2(31), 10010–10019. [https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.201701619](https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.201701619)
  5. Abu-Dief, A. M., Nassar, I. F., & Elsayed,- W. H., (2016). Magnetic NiFe2O4 nanoparticles: efficient, heterogeneous and reusable catalyst for synthesis of acetylferrocene chalcones and their anti-tumour activity, Applied Organometallic Chemistry, 30 (11), 917–923. [https://doi.org/10.1002/aoc.3521](https://doi.org/10.1002/aoc.3521)
  6. Shrivastava, N., Shad, N. A., Sajid, M. M., Duong, A., & Sharma, S. K., (2020). Design of magnetic-luminescent nanoplatforms: applications in theranostics and drug delivery. Magnetic Nanoheterostructures, Springer 287–315. [https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39923-8_9](https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39923-8_9)
  7. Mi, C., Zhang, J., Gao, H., Wu, X., Wang, M., Wu, Y., Di, Y., Xu, Z., Mao, C.,  & Xu S., (2010). Multifunctional nanocomposites of superparamagnetic (Fe3O4) and NIR-responsive rare earth-doped up-conversion fluorescent (NaYF4:Yb,Er) nanoparticles and their applications in biolabeling and fluorescent imaging of cancer cells, Nanoscale, 2, 1141–1148. [https://doi.org/10.1039/C0NR00102C](https://doi.org/10.1039/C0NR00102C)
  8. Hu, S., Zhou, Y., Zhao, Y., Yang, X., Zhang, F., Gu, N., Ma, J., Reynolds, M. A., Xia, Y., & Xu, H.H.K., (2018). Enhanced bone regeneration and visual monitoring via superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle scaffold in rats, Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 12, e2085–e2098.  [https://doi.org/10.1002/term.2641](https://doi.org/10.1002/term.2641) 

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Biomedical Imaging , Biomaterials in Biomedical Engineering

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 28, 2025

Submission Date

November 20, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 16, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 4

APA
Ünal, F., & Akyel, M. F. (2025). Tunable magnetic-luminescent Tb:SiO2@Fe3O4 nanoparticles for theranostic applications. European Mechanical Science, 9(4), 313-319. https://doi.org/10.26701/ems.1826882

Dergi TR Dizin'de Taranmaktadır.

Flag Counter