Polymer-coated magnetic nanoparticles: surface modification and end-functionalization

ATRP (atom transfer radical polymerization) approach was employed to synthesis polymer-coated magnetite nanoparticles. These particles had an average diameter of 7.1 nm and a narrow size distribution. Characterization was performed using various techniques like Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM). The challenge was to obtain a thin shell and discrete particles in an unagglomerated state. Several factors like presence/choice of solvent, monomer-to-initiator concentration and structure of initiator were found to play a key role in this study. Attempts have been made to tailor the polymer shells by end-functionalization. This work has an enormous biomedical application potential.