Abstract
Bimodal nanoprobes comprising both magnetic and optical functionalities have been prepared via a sequential two-step process. Firstly, magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) with well-defined cubic shape and an average dimension of 80 nm were produced by hydrolysis of iron sulfate and were then surface modified with silica shells by using the sol-gel method. The Fe3O4@SiO2 particles were then functionalized with the fluorophore, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), mediated by assembled shells of the cationic polyelectrolyte, polyethyleneimine (PEI). The Fe3O4 functionalized particles were then preliminary evaluated as fluorescent and magnetic probes by performing studies in which neuroblast cells have been contacted with these nanomaterials.
Highlights
Magnetic nanomaterials offer a myriad of attractive possibilities in nanomedicine, including cell separation, biotracking procedures, site-specific drug targeting, delivery and controlled release, and medical imaging (MRI) [1,2,3,4,5]
The first step of this work involved the synthesis of the magnetic cores and their encapsulation in amorphous SiO2 shells through the hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in the presence of the magnetic nanoparticles
We have reported a facile strategy for the synthesis of bimodal magnetic and fluorescence nanoparticles
Summary
Magnetic nanomaterials offer a myriad of attractive possibilities in nanomedicine, including cell separation, biotracking procedures, site-specific drug targeting, delivery and controlled release, and medical imaging (MRI) [1,2,3,4,5]. Most of these applications require the nanoparticles to be chemically. Silica has been used very often as the surface coating material for inorganic nanoparticles, taking advantage of being biocompatible and hydrophilic and, because the surface silanol groups can react with organic molecules to provide specific functionalities [7,8]. Surface modification of silica coated magnetite nanoparticles with polyelectrolytes can enhance their stability against flocculation in aqueous media, due to electrostatic repulsive forces [9].
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