Synthesis and Optimization of Polyethylene Glycol Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles Used as D2EHPA Carriers

Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation of FeCl3.6H2O and FeCl2.4H2O with addition of sodium hydroxide. The conditions for the preparation of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles were optimized, and Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles obtained were characterized systematically by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results revealed that the magnetic nanoparticles were semispherical with the average diameter of 8-25nm. XRD results did not show any phase variation due to PEG coating. It was found that the variation of acid and sodium hydroxide concentrations and quantity of the Polyethylene glycol (PEG) played a critical role in size and structure of nanoparticles. Finally, the surface of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles was cooted with D2EHPA.