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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Using Magnetometry to Monitor Cellular Incorporation and Subsequent Biodegradation of Chemically Synthetized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
Published on: February 27, 2021
Direct coprecipitation route to monodisperse dual-functionalized magnetic iron oxide nanocrystals without size
Zhen Li1, Bien Tan, Mathieu Allix
1Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
Abstract:
Water-soluble monodisperse superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanocrystals decorated with two distinct functional groups are prepared in a single-step procedure by injecting iron precursors into a refluxing aqueous solution of a polymer ligand, trithiol-terminated poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA-PTTM), bearing both carboxylate and thiol functionalities. The ratio of carboxylic acid groups in the polymer-protecting ligand to the iron precursors plays a key role in determining the particle size and particle size distribution. The surface functionalities of the ligands allow post-synthesis modification of the materials to produce water-soluble fluorescent magnetic nanocrystals.

