Abstract
In this work, the synthesis and characterization of core/shell nanoparticles of iron carbide@iron oxide (Fe3C/γ-Fe2O3) encapsulated into micelles of sodium dodecylsulfate and oleic acid and stabilized with chitosan was developed. The materials were sonosynthesized at low intensities using standard ultrasonic baths with iron pentacarbonyl (Fe(CO)5) and oleic acid as iron source and hydrophobic stabilizer, respectively; obtaining nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic diameter of 19.71 nm and polydispersive index (PDI) of 0.13. The iron carbide@iron oxide nanoparticles (ICIONPs) in oleic acid were used as the organic phase during the self-assemble of nanoemulsion with sodium dodecylsulfate in water to obtain the metastable micelles. The final step involved the stabilization of the micelles using low molecular weight chitosan solution at 2% in acetic acid by ultrasonication bath. The nanosystem showed a hydrodynamic diameter of 185.30 nm, a PDI of 0.15 with a superficial charge ζ of 36.70 mV. Due to the magnetic, physical and chemical properties previously measured of the ICIONPs, it is believed that this type of nanoparticles can be used as a possible nanomedicine agent.
Highlights
Over recent decades, the applications of nanoparticles, especially iron oxide nanoparticles have been widely explored
We explore the preparation of nanoencapsulated particles made of iron carbide@iron oxide ferrimagnetic nanoparticles (ICIONPs) synthesized through a novel method based on sonochemistry; the complete synthesis and characterization has been published in previous work [16], in which those particles had demonstrated a ferrimagnetic behavior
The results presented in this study clearly demonstrate the encapsulation of iron carbide@iron oxide nanoparticles through a two-step process: i) nanoparticles were sonosynthesized using low
Summary
The applications of nanoparticles, especially iron oxide nanoparticles have been widely explored. Most of its applications are focused in electrophotography, hyperthermia for applications on cancer cell elimination, diagnosis through magnetic resonance, among others [4,5]. Coating and encapsulating the nanoparticles helps to obtain intelligent responses, such as: change the capacity of being water or oil soluble; surface positive or negative charge; and diverse biomedical applications as magnetic resonance [9], hyperthermia therapy [10], drug delivery [11], tissue [12] and genetic engineering [13]. Increase biocompatibility, cell/tissue selectivity, increase the external magnetic fields response and be able to tune physical and chemical properties as desired
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