Synthesis and characterization of PEG-silane functionalized iron oxide(II, III) nanoparticles for biomedical application

In this paper we report the synthesis, functionalization, and characterization of ferromagnetic iron oxide (II, III) nanoparticles with different shapes and sizes. Using a number of chemical methods, magnetite nanoparticles having a spherical shape and size of 9 ± 2 nm (coprecipitation), 22 ± 4 nm and 50 ± 6 nm (redox reaction), and 40 ± 5 nm cubes were synthesized. Special attention in this paper is devoted to the covalent modification of magnetite nanoparticles by polymers such as silane-polyethylene glycol (Peg-silane). The main advantage of magnetic nanoparticles modified by polymer is low toxicity, colloidal stability of the prepared magnetite nanoparticles, and the possibility for post functionalization. We determined coercivity and saturated magnetism. Also, the relaxivity T2 was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Prepared nanoparticles are of great interest and potential for use in biomedical imaging. © 2015, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.