These magnetic nanoparticles have greater magnetic capacity, translated to improved functional properties, than magnetic nanoparticles available, potentially decreasing the costs of nanoparticle used in a broad range of industrial and biomedical applications. The market value for nanoparticles in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals is expected to reach $79.8 billion in 2019. Magnetic nanoparticles are frequently used for biomedical applications, such as imaging, drug delivery and as therapeutic and diagnostic agents. Unfortunately, the maximum magnetic capacity of available particles are not fully exploited due to a large difference between the actual physical and the magnetic size of the particle. Researchers at the University of Florida can produce nanoparticles in which the particle’s magnetic core size closely matches its physical size. These nanoparticles have enhanced magnetic capacity for better performance in biomedical and industrial applications.
Nanoparticles with enhanced magnetic capacity for better performance in biomedical and industrial applications
Available magnetic nanoparticles from existing synthesis methods suffer inefficiencies due to the presence of a magnetically dead layer on the particle surface, which prevents them from operating at their maximum magnetic potential. Most efforts to enhance the magnetic capacity of nanoparticles focus on post-synthesis modification. In contrast, researchers at the University of Florida have developed a synthesis method that generates nanoparticles with the desired magnetic capacity, without a requirement for any further modification. This method encourages the formation of an iron oxide particle with a uniform phase, and avoids formation of the magnetically dead layer, thereby increasing the magnetic core size of the resulting nanoparticles.
