Preparation of polymer coated superparamagnetic Iron Oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles for biomedical application

Biomedical applications of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) requiring precise control over their physical and magnetic properties, and proper surface treatment. Here we report a practical and effective electrochemical strategy for preparation of the polymer coated SPIONs. In this strategy, in situ polymer coating on the surface of SPIONs was achieved through electrodeposition process. The evaluation by XRD analysis confirmed that the electrodeposited sample has pure phase of iron oxide i.e. magnetite (Fe3O4). The PEG/PVC coating of SPIONs was confirmed by FTIR, DLS and DSC-TG analyses. The FE-SEM observation and DLS analysis revealed that the prepared polymer coated SPIONs have proper dispersion and nanosize about 20 nm. The magnetic measurement by VSM revealed that the prepared SPIONs exhibit excellent superparamagnetic behavior, showing high magnetization value (Ms= 32 emu/g), and negligible coercivity (Ce= 0.42 emu/g) and remanence (Mr= 1.1 Oe) values. Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that this electrochemical strategy is facile and effective method for preparation of polymer coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles for biomedical applications.