Controlled synthesis of uniform magnetitenanocrystals with high-quality properties for biomedical applications

Abstract

Uniform iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles, with sizes in the range 9–22 nm, have been synthesized by thermal decomposition of an iron oleate complex in 1-octadecene, controlling reaction parameters related to the nucleation and growth processes. After transferring to water through a ligand substitution process, nanoparticles display very good magnetic and magneto-thermal properties. The relationship between these properties and the size and size distribution of the particles is discussed. The colloidal stability of the nanoparticles dispersed in common biological buffers has also been studied.