Boron-doping Ni@Au nanotubes: Facile synthesis, magnetic property, and in vitro cytotoxicity on Molt-4 cells

A facile approach was applied for the preparation of boron-doping Ni@Au hybrid magnetic nanotubes via a chemical reduction technique using Ni nanotubes as a precursor. The Ni nanotubes with outer diameter of similar to 320 nm were rapidly pre-fabricated with a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template by electroless deposition, and the Au nanoparticles were subsequently loaded onto the surfaces of the Ni nanotubes. The morphology, structure, composition, magnetic property, and cytotoxicity assays of the as-prepared Ni and Ni@Au nanotubes were all studied. The results indicated that annealing treatment can improve the crystalline structure and magnetic property of the Ni nanotubes. The Ni@Au hybrid nanotubes presented lower cytotoxicity on Molt-4 cells than that of the Ni nanotubes, which makes the magnetic Ni@Au hybrid nanotubes potentially applicable for biomedicine. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.