Solid state synthesis of carbon-encapsulated iron carbide nanoparticles and their interaction with living cells.

Superparamagnetic carbon-encapsulated iron carbide nanoparticles (NPs), FeC@C, with unique properties, were produced from pure ferrocene by high pressure-high temperature synthesis. These NPs combine the merits of nanodiamonds and SPIONs but lack their shortcomings which limit their use for biomedical applications. Investigation of these NPs by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy techniques, X-ray spectroscopic and magnetic measurement methods has demonstrated that this method of synthesis yields NPs with perfectly controllable physical properties.