Superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles have potential biomedical applications, but their synthesis can be challenging and costly. In this study, we present a simple and facile method for synthesizing these nanoparticles via the co-precipitation method. The pH and stabilizer concentration were optimized to obtain Fe3O4 nanoparticles with superparamagnetic characteristics and aggregated morphology in high purity. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the maximum magnetite formation was achieved at a pH of 12.5. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) were used to characterize the morphological and magnetic properties of the synthesized powders, respectively. The results showed that the synthesized particles were micrometer-sized, composed of nanoparticles ranging from 50 to 110 nm in size, and exhibited superparamagnetic behavior with a value of 40 emu/g. The superparamagnetic behavior was attributed to the presence of nanosized crystallites and nanoparticles in the aggregated structure rather than monodisperse particles. Overall, the co-precipitation method presented in this study offers an easy, non-toxic, and fast method for synthesizing Fe3O4 nanoparticles, which may be suitable for industrial-scale production.
In this study, sericin extracted from Bombyx mori silk cocoons was integrated into the well-known Tollens’ method for synthesizing Ag-NPs. Sericin successfully acted as a stabilizer while silver amine complex [Ag(NH3)2]+ was reduced by maltose. As a result, silver nanoparticles with high stability are formed. Possible functional groups related to the stabilization of NPs were investigated by Fourier-transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Ag-Ser NPs were characterized by using particle size measurements based on dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). According to the characterization investigations, Ag-Ser NPs have characteristic (111) face-centered cubic (FFC) plane and were spherical in shape with a narrow size distribution of 20.23 ±6.25 nm. Overall, the sericin-modified Tollens’ method for synthesizing Ag-NPs offers a simple and non-toxic production method to form nanoparticles. Colloidal stability of nanoparticles displays an essential role since their enhanced nano-properties can be diminished by an increase in size due to aggregation and agglomeration. Therefore, the effect of pH on particle stability was investigated through the surface charge of Ag-Ser NPs that was measured using a Zeta-potential analyzer. Results obtained from this study may extend the applicability of silver nanoparticles in biotechnological researches and a potential synthesis route for the application of Ag-Ser NPs as aseptic and therapeutic usages.
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