Poly(ethylene glycol)‐Coated Fe3O4 Nanoparticles by UV‐Thiol‐Ene Addition of PEG Dithiol on Vinyl‐Functionalized Magnetite Surface

Magnetite nanoparticles are synthesized and functionalized with vinyl groups (by silanization reaction with VTMS) and further coated with poly(ethylene glycol) dithiol under UV activation via thiol‐ene addition. TEM analysis is in a good agreement with DLS analyses and shows that by vinyl functionalization and following PEG coating it was possible to achieve nanometer‐sized particles with an average size of about 20–50 nm, well distributed and not‐aggregated. Superparamagnetic‐like behavior of coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles, which is typically looked for in biomedical applications, is ensured by the Brownian motion of the magnetic NPs in the ferrofluid. The polymeric coating does not modify the magnetic response of the magnetite nanoparticles. magnified image