– We investigate the effects of surface anisotropy in a spherical magnetic nanoparticle. By computing minor loops, 2D and 3D energyscape, and by investigating the behaviour of the net magnetisation, we show that the behaviour of a many-spin particle is modeled by a macro-spin effective energy containing a uniaxial and cubic anisotropy terms. Introduction. – A magnetic nanoparticle exhibits many...

Magnetic nanoparticle-based sensors for MRI have been accelerated to a timescale of seconds using densely-functionalized particles of small size. Parameters that increase response rates also result in large nuclear magnetic relaxation rate and light scattering changes, allowing signals to be detected almost immediately after changes in calcium concentration.

A magnetic nanoparticle-supported Pd catalyst was readily prepared from inexpensive starting materials and shown to catalyze various oxidation reactions with high turnover number (TON) and excellent selectivity. The ease of recovery using an external magnetic field, high activity, and the intrinsic stability of the catalyst make this protocol economic and sustainable.

A magnetic quantum dot (MQD) based cellular nanoprobe, composed of a magnetic oxide nanoparticle component and a quantum dot component, has been synthesized and used for both imaging and separation. The successful synthesis is based on a reverse micelle based polyacrylate coating in the presence of component nanoparticles, followed by their functionalization via conjugation chemistry.

Cancer-cell-targeted gene silencing was observed with a magnetic-nanoparticle platform (MEIO, magnetism-engineered iron oxide) on which a fluorescent dye, siRNA, and a RGD-peptide targeting moiety were attached (see picture). The different functionalities enable the macroscopic (magnetic resonance) and microscopic (fluorescence) imaging of target cells. This system may be suitable for concurren...

Hollow magnetic graphitic carbon microspheres (HMGSs) with/without a TiO(2) nanoparticle layer on their surfaces are designed and synthesized by combining the bubble-template method, assembly of beta-cyclodextrin and Fe(3)O(4) stabilized by oleic acid and ammonia, and consequent graphitization reaction. HMGSs have potential in adsorption, enrichment, magnetic-assisted separation and drug delivery.

In this review, we describe the contribution of peptides to the biomedical applications of metallic nanoparticles. We also discuss strategies for the preparation of peptide-nanoparticle conjugates and the synthesis of the peptides and metallic nanoparticles. An overview of the techniques used for the characterization of the conjugates is also provided. Mainly for biomedical purposes, metallic n...