Magnetite-silica core-shell nanostructures: Application for photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Magnetite nanoparticles have been synthesized with chemical co-precipitation. The surface of magnetite nanoparticles was coated with an inorganic silica layer by hydrolyzing and condensing tetraethyl orthosilicate. An XRD investigation supports the cubic inverse spinel structure of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The average crystallite size of the magnetite nanoparticles produced by the peak broadening was 13 nm. The UV-visible spectrum of methylene blue-loaded magnetite-silica nanoparticles shows a strong hump at 657 nm. According to TEM examination, the nanoparticles are polydisperse and almost spherical in form.The average size of the nanoparticles is 14.39 nm plus 1.66 nm, and they have a polydispersity index of 0.12%.The size and shape of the core-shell particles are not uniform, according to a SEM examination. There is no distinguishing morphology in any sample.The magnetic results depicts the superparamagnetic behaviour of nanoparticlesmakes them suitable for photodynamic therapy.