Electrochemical Synthesis of PEI/PVP Coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

In the recent decade, there has been a considerable development of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) for biomedical applications like magnetic carriers for drug delivery and targeting supported by external magnetic fields, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents for clinical diagnosis, cancer therapy compounds for hyperthermia, etc. [1-3]. Superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles double coated with poly(vinylpyrrolidone)/polyethylene imine polymers were successfully fabricated through cathodic electrochemical deposition. In this method, in situ polymer coating of the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles was achieved through electrodeposition process. The evaluation by XRD analysis confirmed that the electrodeposited nanoparticles are composed of pure phase of iron oxide i.e. magnetite (Fe3O4). The structure and composition of the prepared nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, TEM, DLS, XRD, FTIR, and TG analyses. The DLS analysis revealed that the bare and prepared polymer coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles have size of 20 nm and 72 nm, respectively. The polymer coated nanoparticles with having 15 nm in size, suitable magnetization value (Ms=25 emu/g), and negligible coercivity (Ce=0.62 emu/g) and remanence (Mr=1.5 Oe) are proper candidate for biomedical applications. This electrochemical strategy is proposed as facile and efficient route for preparation of polymer coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles.