Fabrication of succinic acid-γ-Fe2O3 nano core–shells

Core–shell nano-structures were synthesized by adsorbing succinic acid on γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (hereafter referred to as core–shell nanoparticles or core–shells). Streptomycin was chosen as a model drug to attach on γ-Fe2O3 core–shells. Vibration spectroscopic data confirmed the specific adsorption of organic ligands (i.e., succinic acid or streptomycin) onto γ-Fe2O3 via bi-dentate, bi-nuclear complex. Possible molecular configurations between organic ligands and γ-Fe2O3 were examined by density functional theory (DFT) using Fe6(OH)18(H2O)6 ring cluster. The measured vibration frequencies and bond distances (i.e., FeOFe, FeOw, and FeOH units) of the optimized γ-Fe2O3 cluster matched well with the calculations.