Exploring the Bioengineering Potential of CoFe2O4-BaTiO3 Nanoparticles: A Dive into the Magnetoelectric Coefficient

Abstract

Magnetoelectric (ME) materials, especially in the form of core–shell nanoparticles, have gained increasing attention for their potential in bioengineering applications. In particular, cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) and barium titanate (BaTiO₃) core–shell nanoparticles stand out due to their strong Magneto-Electric (ME) properties. This perspective examines the evolution of the state of the art on CoFe₂O₄-BaTiO₃ core–shell ME nanoparticles (MENPs), describing different methodologies adopted to measure their ME coefficient (α), the main critical parameter correlated with their magnetoelectric behavior. The analysis reveals a broad range of ME coefficients measured, mostly due to heterogeneous measurement techniques and samples. Recently, advancements in measurement technologies, such as scanning tunneling microscopy and piezoresponse force microscopy, have enabled more precise characterizations of these nanoparticles at a single particle scale, leading to the measurement of more precise ME coefficients. A systematic discussion of the recent advancements in the field and future research directions is here outlined, with a particular focus on the role of computational simulations to further deepen the understanding of the ME effects in the development of next-generation multifunctional biomedical devices.