Synthesis and characterization of surface-modified Fe₃O₄ super-paramagnetic nanoparticles

Abstract

Aqueous dispersion and stability of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles remain an issue unresolved since aggregation of naked iron nanoparticles in water. In this study, we successfully synthesized different Fe₃O₄ super-paramagnetic nanoparticles which were modified by three kinds of materials [DSPE-MPEG2000, TiO₂ and poly acrylic acid (PAA)] and further detected their characteristics. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) clearly showed sizes and morphology of the four kinds of nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) proved successfully coating of the three kinds of nanoparticles and their structures were maintained. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) verified that their magnetic properties fitted for the super-paramagnetic function. More importantly, the particle size analysis indicated that Fe₃O₄@PAA had a better size distribution, biocompatibility, stability and dispersion than the other two kinds of nanoparticles. In addition, using CNE2 cells as a model, we found that all nanoparticles were nontoxic. Taken together, our data suggest that Fe₃O₄@PAA nanoaparticles are superior in the application of biomedical field among the four kinds of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles in the future.

Keywords

Fe₃O₄ super-paramagnetic nanoparticles / surface modification / biocompatibility

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