Silane-based functionalization of synthetic antiferromagnetic nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Synthetic antiferromagnetic nanoparticles (SAFNPs) have been successfully coated with two different kinds of silanes, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane and 2-[methoxy(polyethyleneoxy)propyl]trimethoxysilane. The morphology of SAF particles is characterized by scanning electron microscopy and magnetic properties by alternating gradient magnetometry. The attachment of silane molecules is verified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and colloidal stability is studied using dynamic light scattering. These two silanes change the surface chemical properties of SAFNPs dramatically in different ways, which in turn affects the stability of these particles.