Surface modification of magnetite nanoparticles for biomedical applications

The preparation of magnetite nanoparticles with narrow size distributions using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-COOH) or carboxymethyl dextran (CMDx) chains covalently attached to the particle surface using carbodiimide chemistry is described. Particles were synthesized by thermal decomposition and modified with 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APS) to render particles with reactive amine groups (-NH2) on their surface. Amines were then reacted with carboxyl groups in PEG-COOH or CMDx using carbodiimide chemistry in water. The size and stability of the functionalized magnetic nanoparticles was studied as a function of pH and ionic strength using dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurements.