Gadolinium-doped magnetite nanoparticles from a single-source precursor.

An iron and gadolinium-containing bimetallic polynuclear complex was used as a single source precursor in the synthesis of gadolinium-doped magnetite nanoparticles (Gd:Fe3O4). The synthesis produces well defined octahedral particles (12.6 +/- 2.6 nm diameter) with a gadolinium content in the region of 2 mol%. The nanoparticles showed a value of the specific absorption rate of 3.7 +/- 0.6 W g(Fe)(-1) under low-amplitude radiofrequency magnetic field excitation, and moderate biocompatibility, suggesting that these particles are viable candidates for magnetic hyperthermia applications.