Magnetic cobalt dispersions in poly(dimethylsiloxane) fluids

Magnetic cobalt nanoparticle dispersions in biocompatible poly(dimethylsiloxane) fluids were studied for treating retinal detachments. Dispersions were prepared in toluene with triblock poly(dimethylsiloxane-b-(3-cyanopropyl) methylsiloxane-b-dimethylsiloxane) stabilizers where anchor blocks adsorbed onto the particles and tail blocks provided steric stability. These copolymers formed micelles in toluene with aggregation dependent on block lengths, and dispersion formation also depended on block lengths. The stabilizers could also function as the carrier fluids. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.