Iron-included carbon nanocapsules coated with biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol) shells

Nanoparticles of iron carbides wrapped in multilayered graphitic sheets (carbon nanocapsules) were synthesized by electric plasma discharge in an ultrasonic cavitation field in liquid ethanol and purified by selective oxidation and magnetic separation. The particles had 100–200 nm in diameter after centrifuging for 10 min at 4000 rpm. Carbon nanocapsules were covered by wispy poly(ethylene glycol) PEG coating about 7–10 nm in thickness. The number of PEG chains coated on carbon nanocapsules could be estimated as 9.15%. The values of saturation magnetization Ms and coercivity Hc of purified carbon nanocapsules without PEG coating were 112 emu g−1 and 75 Oe respectively. Magnetically soft carbon nanocapsules with a poly(ethylene glycol) coating on the surface may possibly be used as biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles in medical applications.