Saccharide Capped Superparamagnetic Metal-ion Doped Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: A Facile Electrochemical Approach to Production

Here we describe a simple and novel electrochemical synthesis for preparation of Mn doped iron oxide nanoparticles (MIOs) and their surface coating with saccharides (i.e. glucose, sucrose and starch). The electrochemical preparation of MIOs samples were carried out in a two-electrode electrochemical set up including graphite anode and stainless steel cathode. The surface coating with saccharide agents was also performed in the same set up and simultaneously with the formation of iron oxide particles on the cathode surface. The fabricated MIOs were specified through FT-IR, FE-SEM, XRD, DSC-TGA, and VSM analyses. The structural data obtained by XRD proved the magnetite (Fe3O4) crystal phase of samples, and FT-IR and TG data showed the Mn doping and saccharide coat on the surface of the deposited MIONs. The FE-SEM observations and EDS data confirmed the particle morphology and magnetite chemical composition as well as Mn ions doping into the MIONs. The superparamagnetic nature and suitable magnetic ability (i.e. high saturation magnetization, negligible remanent magnetization and coercivity) for the fabricated MIONs were also assessed though vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) results. These characters of the electrosynthesized sample provided their suitability for biomedical applications.