One-pot synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles with functional silane shells: A versatile general precursor for conjugations and biomedical applications

摘要

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and their surface modifications with therapeutic or diagnostic (theranostic, TN) agents are of great interest. Here we present a novel one-pot synthesis of a versatile general TN precursor (aminosilane-coated IONPs [IONP-Sil(NH_2)]) with surface amine groups. Surface functional group conversion to carboxylic acid was accomplished by conjugating poly(ethylene glycol) diacid to IONP-Sil(NH2). The NPs were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Biocompatibility and cell uptake profile of the nanoparticles were evaluated in-vitro using cultured liver cells (HepG2). Oleylamine (hydrophobic) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as model drugs were attached to IONP-Sil-PEG(COOH). The ability of IONP-Sil(NH_2) to bind small interfering RNA (siRNA) is also shown.