Synthesis and bio-functionalization of multifunctional magnetic Fe3O4@Y2O3:Eu nanocomposites

A facile homogenous precipitation method has been developed for the synthesis of multifunctional, magnetic, luminescent nanocomposites with Fe3O4 nanoparticles as the core and europium-doped yttrium oxide (Y2O3:Eu) as the shell. The nanocomposites showed both super-paramagnetic behavior and unique europium fluorescence properties with high emission intensity. Their surface has been modified with a bifunctional ligand, p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), and further biofunctionalized with biotin; the nanocomposites showed specific targeting for avidin-coupled polystyrene beads.