Structural characterization and adsorption properties of pluronic F127 onto iron oxides magnetic nanoparticles

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with polymers have shown low toxicity and chemical stability in physiological condition, thereby can be used to deliver encapsulated drugs throughout the body by external magnetic fields. In this study, magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized thorough co-precipitation method and their interaction with Pluronic F127 block copolymer as well as adsorption properties of polymer onto nanoparticles were investigated. Adsorption measurement revealed different adsorption behaviors below and above the polymer's critical micelle concentration. The Freundlich isotherm was found to better describe the adsorption behavior of Pluronic F127 onto SIONPs particles below the block copolymer critical micelle concentration. At higher concentration, the adsorbed amount is likely to diminish due to interpenetration of the adsorbed macromolecular micelles and volume-excluded effects for block copolymers. Furthermore, magnetic nanocomposites with different concentration of polymers were prepared through hydrothermal method. The crystalline structure, morphology, pore structure, and magnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles/nanocomposites products at different pH and polymer concentration were studied. Results showed that due to the hematite impurities, magnetic nanocomposites synthesized at higher pH have lower magnetization.