A new procedure for preparation of polyethylene glycol-grafted magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely explored for use in biomedical applications. In the present study, iron oxide nanoparticles were connected to methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) via a new method. The mPEG was acrylated at first and Michael reaction was carried out between acrylated mPEG and 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane as a coupling agent. The chemical structures of modified mPEG were characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance. In the next step, iron oxide nanoparticle was coupled with the above-mentioned adduct. Preparation of magnetic nanoparticles with average particle size of 20–30 nm was proved by scanning electron microscopy. The structure of mPEG grafted on the surface of MNPs was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. The synthesized nanoparticles have the potential to be used in different biomedical applications.