Synthesis and characterization of multifunctional Fe3O4/poly(fluorescein O-methacrylate) core/shell nanoparticles

Abstract

Multifunctional fluorescent and superparamagnetic Fe3O4/poly(fluorescein O-methacrylate) [Fe3O4/poly(FMA)] nanoparticles with core/shell structure were synthesized via surface-initiated polymerization. First, polymerizable double bonds were introduced onto the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles via ligand exchange and a condensation reaction. A fluorescent monomer, FMA, was then polymerized to the double bonds at the surface via free-radical polymerization, leading to form a fluorescent polymer shell around the superparamagnetic Fe3O4 core. The resultant Fe3O4/poly(FMA) nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy to confirm the reactions. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that the Fe3O4/poly(FMA) nanoparticles have a spherical and monodisperse core/shell morphology. Photoluminescence spectroscopy and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer analyses confirmed that the Fe3O4/poly(FMA) nanoparticles exhibited fluorescent and superparamagnetic properties, respectively. In addition, we demonstrated the potential bioimaging application of the Fe3O4/poly(FMA) nanoparticles by visualizing the cellular uptake of the nanoparticles into A549 lung cancer cells.