Direct synthesis of water dispersible superparamagnetic TGA capped FePt nanoparticles: One pot, one shot

Thioglycolic acid (TGA) capped hydrophilic fcc-FePt magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were directly synthesized by a facile one pot polyol method. Thioglycolic acid (TGA) was used to functionalize the nanoparticles by incorporating thiol group onto the surface. It helped in the preparation of highly stable dispersions of nanoparticles with spherical morphology. A possible formation mechanism for these FePt MNPs, depending on the role of TGA, was proposed. The as-prepared FePt MNPs possessed a face centered cubic structure with an average size of 6 ± 1 nm and superparamagnetic property at room temperature. MRI study showed that these MNPs exhibited a transverse relaxivity of ∼600 mg⁻¹ ml s⁻¹, superior to that of reported iron oxide nanoparticles. - Highlights: • One pot synthesis of TGA capped hydrophilic FePt superparamagnetic nanoparticles. • Role of TGA molecules in the formation of FePt nanoparticles. • EDX reveals the equiatomic ratio of Fe and Pt atoms in FePt nanoparticles. • The HR-TEM exhibits spherical nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution. • High transverse relaxivity suggesting as potential MRI contrast agent