Magnetic Nanoparticles for in Vivo Use: A Critical Assessment of Their Composition

Three different magnetic samples with particle sizes ranging from 10 to 30 nm were prepared by wet chemical methods. The powders were heated at 100, 150, 200, and 250 degrees C during 30 min under air. Ferrous and total iron contents were determined immediately after the synthesis and after the thermal treatments. All samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission and integral low-energy electron Mossbauer spectroscopy (ILEEMS) at 298 K. These samples are composed of a mixture of individual particles of maghemite and magnetite, which implies that once oxidation starts in this kind of material, it occurs throughout the entire particle volume. The existence of a maghemite/magnetite coreshell model was ruled out. A linear correlation between the average isomer shift and the magnetite content was found, allowing the estimation of the amounts of magnetite and maghemite in an unknown sample without the need of performing chemical analysis.