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Synthesis and characterization of magnetic nanoparticles by chemical co- precipitation
Dr. Nabila Shamim
Prairie View A & M University
Abstract
The nanocrystalline magnetic particles have attracted an increasing interest in the field of
nanoscience and nanotechnology because of their unique and novel physicochemical properties
that can be attained according to their particle size and shape morphology. Iron oxide particles
particularly magnetite is most commonly used in the biomedical and magnetic sensing areas for
their biocompatibility and high magnetization values. Its application includes enzyme
immobilization, magnetic resonance imaging, targeted drug delivery systems, DNA detection
and cancer therapy. The critical obstacles of these nanoparticles are size and size dispersity
control. The particle-particle interaction and the reduction of energy associated to the high
surface to volume ratio tend to form clusters of particles during the synthesis process. The
chemical stability of magnetic particles is of great importance for their applications in medicine
and biotechnology. In the present work, magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical
co-precipitation method. The Fe3O4 nanomagnetic particles were prepared by chemical coprecipitation of Fe2+ and Fe3+ salts in the ratio of 1:2 under alkaline and inert condition. The
magnetic nanoparticles were characterized by using transmission electron micrography (TEM),
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM).
TEM showed that the particle remained discrete with a mean diameter of 10 nm. Magnetic
measurements revealed that the particles are superparamagnetic. Pure Fe3O4 spinel structure
of these nanoparticles was indicated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. To synthesize
more stable magnetic particles, stabilized against agglomeration, the magnetic nanoparticles
were coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Similar characterizations were carried out to
confirm the attachment of PEG with magnetic nanoparticles and the results were compared with
the bared magnetic nanoparticles.
Keywords: magnetic nanoparticles, magnetite, superparamagnetic, chemical co-percipitation.