Magnetic/luminescent core/shell particles synthesized by spray pyrolysis and their application in immunoassays with internal standard

Many types of fluorescent nanoparticles have been investigated as alternatives to conventional organic dyes in biochemistry; magnetic beads also have a long history of biological applications. In this work we apply flame spray pyrolysis in order to engineer a novel type of nanoparticle that has both luminescent and magnetic properties. The particles have magnetic cores of iron oxide doped with cobalt and neodymium and luminescent shells of europium-doped gadolinium oxide ( Eu:Gd2O3). Measurements by vibrating sample magnetometry showed an overall paramagnetic response of these composite particles. Luminescence spectroscopy showed spectra typical of the Eu ion in a Gd2O3 host - a narrow emission peak centred near 615 nm. Our synthesis method offers a low-cost, high-rate synthesis route that enables a wide range of biological applications of magnetic/luminescent core/shell particles. Using these particles we demonstrate a novel immunoassay format with internal luminescent calibration for more precise measurements.