A Novel Approach for the Synthesis of PEGylated Monodispersed Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

PEGylated, monodispersed, superparamagnetic, iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 / γ-Fe2O3) were synthesized by using a novel metal-organic approach in three steps. Ferric nitrate nonahydrate, Fe (NO3)3.9H2O, was used as iron source, which was sterically hindered among the interstices and / or in the cavities of β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) molecules, following a modified complexation procedure. Via a polyol process the obtained complex system was first dispersed in polyethylene glycol (PEG) and under mild thermal treatment and in the presence of 1,12 dodecanediol, a new complex system of carboxylate type was formed, between ferric nitrate and PEG, denoted Fe (NO3)3.9H2O-PEG. This metal-organic precursor was thermally decomposed, forming the iron oxide nanoparticles. The obtained particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).