Fatty Acid Binding Domain Mediated Conjugation of Ultrafine Magnetic Nanoparticles with Albumin Protein

A novel bioconjugate of stearic acid capped maghemite nanoparticle (γ-Fe2O3) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was developed by taking recourse to the fatty acid binding property of the protein. From FT-IR study, it was found that conjugation took place covalently between the amine group of protein molecule and carboxyl group of stearic acid capped maghemite nanoparticle. TEM study further signified the morphology of the proposed nanobioconjuagte. The binding constant of nanoparticle with protein molecule was evaluated from the optical property studies. Also, magnetic measurement (M–H) showed retaining of magnetic property by significant values of saturation magnetization and other hysteretic parameters

Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Surface Functionalization Strategies

Surface functionalized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are a kind of novel functional materials, which have been widely used in the biotechnology and catalysis. This review focuses on the recent development and various strategies in preparation, structure, and magnetic properties of naked and surface functionalized iron oxide NPs and their corresponding application briefly. In order to implement the practical application, the particles must have combined properties of high magnetic saturation, stability, biocompatibility, and interactive functions at the surface. Moreover, the surface of iron oxide NPs could be modified by organic materials or inorganic materials, such as polymers, biomolecules, silica, metals, etc. The problems and major challenges, along with the directions for the synthesis and surface functionalization of iron oxide NPs, are considered. Finally, some future trends and prospective in these research areas are also discussed

Formation of large opals via drying of wet colloidal crystals

Salgueirino-Maceira V, Rodriguez-Gonzalez B, Hellweg T, Liz-Marzan LM. Formation of large opals via drying of wet colloidal crystals. In: Australian Journal of Chemistry. Australian Journal of Chemistry. Vol 56. CSIRO Publishing; 2003: 1017-1020.The formation of opal structures with large crystalline domains is demonstrated through the formation of colloidal crystals in ethanol of surface-modified colloidal silica spheres containing small CdS nuclei, followed by controlled drying at room temperature. The high quality of the opals was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and, more importantly, also by small-angle neutron scattering ( SANS), which allows probing of the entire sample and provides important information on the crystal structure