Magnetic nanostructures (MNS) have become the subject of intense interest due to their superparamagnetic properties and consequently their potential uses in medical diagnostics and therapeutics. In this study, monodisperse magnetite MNSs were synthesized via thermal decomposition of iron(III) acetylacetonate and transferred to aqueous solution using 11-aminoundecanoic acid as the surfactant. Fluoroscein isothiocyanate (FITC) was then conjugated to the MNSs for the purposes of tracking the MNSs in vitro and identifying amine functional groups available on the surface of the nanostructures. Synthesis and proper conjugation of the FITC-functionalized MNSs were verified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV/vis spectroscopy. The biocompatibility of the FITC-functionalized MNSs was demonstrated by incubating HeLa cells with the MNSs. MNS uptake by the cells was verified using confocal fluorescent microscopy, and cytotoxicity was determined by performing a viability assay. The identification of amine groups on the surface of a biocompatible nanostructure known to be coated in carboxylic acid groups opens the door to the development of multifunctionalized nanostructures for biomedical diagnostics and therapeutics.

Last modified

• 07/24/2018

Creator

• Hrushikesh M. Joshi
• Vinayak P. Dravid
• Seul Kathy Ku
• Jonathan Lin

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/N21T50

Keyword

• Volume 7

Date created

• 2010

Resource type

• Article

Rights statement

• In Copyright