Influence of dextran coating on the magnetic behaviour of iron oxide nanoparticles

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with mean diameters in the range from 10 to 30 nm were prepared by modified chemical precipitation routes. The particles were suspended in an aqueous solution by coating of the particles with carboxymethyldextran. A stability against agglomeration was achieved over a period of more than 7 days. In the present investigation, the structural and the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were investigated. The influence of the dextran shell on the strength of the dipole–dipole interactions between the neighbouring particles was determined by investigation of the remanence behaviour (Henkel plot) of coated as well as of uncoated particles.