One step grafting of monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) during synthesis of maghemite nanoparticles in aqueous medium

Grafting of silanated monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (m-PEG) onto maghemite nanoparticles surface in aqueous medium through one step procedure was investigated. The major characteristic of this work is that the grafting of m-PEG was produced during the synthesis of maghemite nanoparticles. The maghemite nanoparticles were characterized by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), zeta potential measurement, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The spinel structure of maghemite nanoparticles was verified and successful grafting of m-PEG was evidenced. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) attested the presence of 15% (w/w) of m-PEG around the maghemite nanoparticles.