Author(s):
Costa, Achilley Nahid Barros ; Serra, Josilene Lima ; da Luz Rodrigues, Israel ; Mendonça, Leonardo Tadeu Boaes ; Pereira, Goreti ; Castanheira, Elisabete M. S. ; Rodrigues, Samuel Filgueira ; Paiva, Antônio E.M. ; Veloso, Sérgio Rafael Silva ; Rodrigues, Ana Rita Oliveira ; Correia, Gricirene Sousa
Date: 2025
Persistent ID: https://hdl.handle.net/1822/95442
Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
Subject(s): photothermia; Prussian blue; hydroxyapatite; alginate gel; Alginate; Calcium phosphate; Photothermal
Description
In this study, Prussian Blue (PB) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) composites were developed and synthesized in situ within an alginate gel, resulting in materials with excellent photothermal conversion efficiency. Structural information and morphology of the composites were obtained by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques. Photothermal performance was evaluated under near-infrared (NIR) radiation at 808 nm. The micrographs showed the characteristic cubic morphology of PB as well as its encapsulation by hydroxyapatite phase during synthesis. The UV–vis absorption spectroscopy shows an increase in the absorption band in the region around 800 nm for the composite due to the presence of Prussian blue. XRD analysis revealed the presence of PB and HAp phases in the composite with 2 % of alginate. Photothermal tests showed that a composite containing 2 % alginate promoted excellent temperature increase and stability, achieving a ΔT of approximately 23°C while maintaining comparable efficacy to pure PB. The composites demonstrated excellent photothermal stability during repeated cycles, suggesting their suitability as photothermal agents. The incorporation of HAp and the presence of alginate did not affect the photothermal behavior of the composites, highlighting their promise potential for the development of future photothermal devices.
