Title: Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of iron oxides nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Authors: S. Rashdan, M. Bououdina, A. Al-Saie, E. Ghanem, A. Bin-Thani, S. Althawadi

Addresses: Department of Chemistry, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain. ' Nanotechnology Centre, University of Bahrain, Sakhir Campus, P.O. Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain; Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Sakhir Campus, P.O. Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain. ' Nanotechnology Centre, University of Bahrain, Sakhir Campus, P.O. Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain; Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Sakhir Campus, P.O. Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain. ' Department of Biology, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain. ' Department of Biology, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain. ' Department of Biology, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain

Abstract: Magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles have been synthesised by two methods: co-precipitation using a range of Fe3+ and Fe27+ raw materials; oxidative hydrolysis using various Fe2+ salts. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that most of the samples prepared by the co-precipitation method resulted in a mixture of two iron oxide phases (Fe2O3 and Fe3O4) with the presence of impurities (unreacted precursors) while using the oxidative hydrolysis method, Fe3O4 was found to be a major product. Magnetic measurements confirm the results obtained by X-ray diffraction. The sample prepared using FeSO4 as precursor in urea and PEG 200 at 40-50°C for 3 hours (nominated as E2) gives an average crystallites size around 70 nm, a saturation magnetisation Ms = 75 emu/g, a remanence of Mr = 12 emu/g and a coercivity of Hc = 110 kOe, which can be a good candidate for biomedical applications.

Keywords: magnetic nanoparticles; co-precipitation method; oxidative hydrolysis method; X-ray diffraction; magnetic properties; synthesis; crystal structure; iron oxides; biomedical applications; nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2010.035877

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2010 Vol.3 No.3, pp.220 - 228

Received: 12 Mar 2010
Accepted: 25 Mar 2010

Published online: 07 Oct 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article