In situ synthesis and magnetic studies of iron oxide nanoparticles in calcium-alginate matrix for biomedical applications

In this work we applied a new route to synthesize magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles into alginate polymer for future application as drug delivery system activated by magnetic external stimuli. Calcium-alginate was used to encapsulate iron oxide nanoparticles, and as scaffold for particle nucleation and its influence on particles size and magnetic properties were studied. The iron oxide mean sizes were between 4.3 and 9.5 nm. Iron is dispersed throughout the polymer matrix mainly as iron oxide particles, and a small fraction as iron (III) occupying calcium sites in the polymer network. The temperature dependence of the Mössbauer spectra is typical of superparamagnetic particles in agreement with the magnetic susceptibility data.