Our magnetite nanoparticles are colloidal iron oxide (Fe3O4) materials that exhibit superparamagnetic properties at ambient temperatures. This material is used in nanotoxicology and magnetic nanotechnology research and development. The size, non-toxicity, and superparamagnetic properties of the magnetite nanoparticles make them of interest for applications in many fields, including catalysis, biosensors, ferrofluids, magnetic separations and MRI contrast agents.
Magnetite nanospheres from nanoComposix are approximately 20 nm in diameter. This material is unagglomerated, highly concentrated, and offered in solution or as a dried powder that readily redisperses into water. The nanospheres are:
NanoComposix has extensive experience with the synthesis and development of complex nanomaterials and coatings, and has produced a broad assortment of well-characterized, precisely-tuned magnetic nanoparticles on a custom basis. We are able to synthesize magnetic nanomaterials of varying compositions, sizes, morphologies, and surface functionalities, examples of which are shown below. Contact us today to inquire about your custom magnetic nanoparticle needs.
Gold nanoshells typically consist of a dielectric core, a thin layer of silica and a uniformly thin outer layer of gold with unique and tunable optical properties. This material can be used for medical diagnostic assays and photothermal therapies. NanoComposix has fabricated magnetic-responsive versions of these materials using superparamagnetic nanoparticle cores coated with a silica spacer followed by a gold shell. The optical properties can be tuned by adjusting the overall particle size or the diameter of the gold shell. The gold surface provides a useful substrate for functionalization with biological molecules or other custom surface functionality.
The reaction conditions have been tuned to modify sizes between 100–300 nm.
We have also fabricated magnetic-fluorescent composite particles, consisting of a magnetic core, silica spacer, and fluorescent quantum dots covalently bound to the silica surface. The quantum dots are functionalized to allow further coupling of biomolecules or other molecules.
Iron oxide nanoparticles with a diameter of ~60 nm were fabricated, coated with uniform silica shells and quantum dots covalently bound for a final particle of ~100 nm. The reaction conditions can be tuned to modify the size of the core and shell thickness, and quantum dots with different emission properties can be easily be substituted to produce samples with tailored fluorescence.
A wide variety of magnetic nanomaterials can be produced via the thermal decomposition of organometallic precursors at high temperature in organic solvents, producing highly monodisperse, organic-solvent compatible nanoparticles. Iron oxide nanoparticles coated with oleic acid can range from 4 to 20 nm in diameter by modifying reaction conditions, and easily dispersed into a wide variety of organic solvents. The particles can be transferred into aqueous-compatible solvents by modifyingthe surface or by growing a uniform silica coating around the particles. These nanomaterials can be further customized with surface functionality tailored for your applications.
NanoComposix has experience with fabricating a wide variety of magnetic metal ferrite and alloy nanoparticles, which can be produced with customizable sizes, shapes and compositions. The size and iron-to-platinum ratio can be adjusted to alter the magnetic and catalytic properties. Monodisperse iron platinum (FePt) nanoparticles, shown below, were fabricated with diameters of approximately 3 nm.