Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrophilic gama-Fe2O3 Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

The hydrophilic g-Fe2O3 nanoparticles coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were prepared in one step of the modified polyol method combined with an additional heat treating. The presence of maghemite (g-Fe2O3) phase was confirmed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman Spectrometry on powder. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of PVP on the nanoparticles surface and the Zeta potential also supported the coating of nanoparticles with a layer of PVP and a good stability in aqueous medium. SEM analysis showed that the prepared g-Fe2O3 nanoparticles have a spherical structural morphology with the tendency of agglomeration. Hysteresis loop shows a ferromagnetic behaviour at room temperature with a saturation magnetization up to 57 emu/g.