Synthesis and surface modification of uniform MFe2O4 (M = Fe, Mn, and Co) nanoparticles with tunable sizes and functionalities

Cubic monodisperse MFe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles (M = Fe, Co, and Mn) with tunable sizes between 7 and 20 nm and a narrow size distribution have been achieved in a one step synthesis by thermal decomposition of Fe(III), Co (II), and Mn(II) oleates. These nanoparticles have been functionalized with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA), and bis(carboxymethyl)(2-maleimidylethyl) ammonium 4-toluenesulfonate (MATS) to grant them aqueous stability and the possibility for further functionalization with different biomolecules. Their structural, magnetic, and colloidal properties have also been studied to determine their chemical and physical properties and the degree of stability under physiological conditions that will determine their future use in biomedical applications.