Preparation of magnetite nanocrystals with surface reactive moieties by one-pot reaction

By one-pot reaction, biocompatible magnetite nanocrystals with surface reactive moieties were prepared through the thermal decomposition of Fe(acac)3 in 2-pyrrolidone using α,ωα,ω-dicarboxyl-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) as surface capping molecule. The successful conjugation between the magnetite nanocrystals and 9-amino acridine on the one hand demonstrates the existence of free carboxylic groups from PEG binding on the particle surface, on the other hand may also lead to a new type of magneto-optical materials as well as magneto-drugs.

Graphical abstractBy one-pot reaction, through the thermal decomposition of Fe(acac)3 in 2-pyrrolidone, biocompatible magnetite nanocrystals with surface reactive moieties were prepared using α,ωα,ω-dicarboxyl-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) as a surface capping agent. An EDC-mediated coupling reaction was conducted to link 9-amino acridine (9-AA) with Fe3O4 nanocrystals to detect the existence of the carboxylic groups on the particle surface.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide