Development of Fe/Fe3O4 core-shell nanocubes as a promising magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent.
Here, we report the synthesis, characterization, and properties of Fe/Fe3O4 core-shell nanocubes prepared via a simple route. It includes NaBH4 reduction of FeCl3 in an ethylene glycol solution in the presence of 2-mercaptopropionic acid (surfactant) and trisodium citrate (cosurfactant) followed by surface oxidation with trimethylamine N-oxide. The morphology and structure of Fe/Fe3O4 core-shell nanocubes were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, selected area electron diffraction, X-ray powder diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. All of the methods confirm a Fe/Fe3O4 core-shell structure of nanocubes. Magnetic measurements revealed that the Fe/Fe3O4 core/shell nanocubes are superparamagnetic at 300 K with a saturation magnetization of 129 emu/g. The T2 weighted imaging and the T2 relaxation time showed high MRI contrast and sensitivity, making these nanocubes viable candidates as enhanced MRI contrast agents.
Faculty of Science, Physics Department, King Abdulaziz University , Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Waleed E
WE
Mahmoud
Lyudmila M
LM
Bronstein
Faten
F
Al-Hazmi
Fowzia
F
Al-Noaiser
A A
AA
Al-Ghamdi