Fabrication of Fe3O4 nano-aggregates hybrid material via self-assembly of nanocapsules based on amphiphilic hyperbranched polyglycerols

• AP-HPG with core–shell structure was synthesized as template for nanomaterials.
• AP-HPG was employed for synthesis of Fe3O4 nano-aggregate by solvo-hydrothermal method.
• Fusiform, egg-shaped, etc. Fe3O4 nano-aggregates were obtained induced by AP-HPG.
• Size and shape of Fe3O4 aggregates can be controlled by the concentration of AP-HPG.
• Fe3O4 aggregates with various shapes can be applied in some particular fields.

An amphiphilic hyperbranched polyglycerol (AP-HPG) with core–shell structure was synthesized based on hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG) modified by oleic acid, which was firstly employed for the synthesis of Fe3O4 based on its property as nanocapsule. To our surprise, the resulting Fe3O4 aggregates (ca. 500 nm) formed in the shape of fusiform, egg-shaped and short rod-like when the concentration of AP-HPG ranged from 0.05 Mm to 0.12 mM, suggesting the nanocapsule formed at different concentration of AP-HPG can induce a various sizes and shapes of Fe3O4 nanoparticle aggregate via self-assembly.

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