Design of stable polyether-magnetite complexes in aqueous media: effects of the anchor group, molecular weight, and chain density.

The colloidal stability of polymer-stabilized nanoparticles is critical for therapeutic use. However, phosphates in physiological media can induce polymer desorption and consequently flocculation. Colloidal characteristics of PEO-magnetite nanoparticles with different anchors for attaching PEO to magnetite were examined in PBS.

Synthesis and colloidal properties of polyether-magnetite complexes in water and phosphate-buffered saline.

Biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles show great promise for many biotechnological applications. This paper addresses the synthesis and characterization of magnetite nanoparticles coated with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) homopolymers and amphiphilic poly(propylene oxide-b-ethylene oxide) (PPO-b-PEO) copolymers that were anchored through ammonium ions. Predictions and experimental measurements of the colloidal properties of these nanoparticles in water and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as functions of the polymer block lengths and polymer loading are reported.

Stability of polydimethylsiloxane-magnetite nanoparticle dispersions against flocculation: interparticle interactions of polydisperse materials.

The colloidal stability of dispersions comprised of magnetite nanoparticles coated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) oligomers was investigated theoretically and experimentally. Particle-particle interaction potentials in a theta solvent and in a good solvent for the PDMS were predicted by calculating van der Waals, electrostatic, steric, and magnetic forces as functions of interparticle separation distances. A variety of nanoparticle sizes and size distributions were considered.