Feng Dang

Sonochemical synthesis of monodispersed magnetite nanoparticles by using an ethanol-water mixed solvent

The magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized in an ethanol-water solution under ultrasonic irradiation from a Fe(OH)(2) precipitate. XRD, TEM, TG, IR, VSM and UV/vis absorption spectrum were used to characterize the magnetite nanoparticles. It was found that the formation of magnetite was accelerated in ethanol-water solution in the presence of ultrasonic irradiation, whereas, it was limited in ethanol-water solution under mechanical stirring. The monodispersibility of magnetite particles was improved significantly through the sonochemical synthesis in ethanol-water solution. The magnetic properties were improved for the samples synthesized under ultrasonic irradiation. This would be attributed to high Fe(2+) concentration in the magnetite cubic structure.

Properties of magnetic nanoparticles in the Brownian relaxation range for liquid phase immunoassays

Properties of magnetic nanoparticles in the Brownian relaxation region were studied. Using the magnetic nanoparticles that exhibit remanence, we measured the magnetic properties, such as static magnetization, magnetic relaxation, and alternating current susceptibility, in a solution. Comprehensive comparisons were made between the experimental results and the theoretical ones predicted from the Brownian relaxation. From the comparison, the distributions of the particle parameters, i.e., the magnetic moment and the relaxation time, were estimated. It was shown that all the magnetic properties can be well explained when we take into account the parameter distributions in the sample.

Sonochemical coating of magnetite nanoparticles with silica

Magnetite nanoparticles were coated with silica through the hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) under ultrasonic irradiation. The ultrasonic irradiation was used to prevent the agglomeration of the magnetite particles and accelerate the hydrolysis and condensation of TEOS. TEM, DLS, XRF, VSM, TG and sedimentation test were used to characterize the silica-coated magnetite particles. The dispersibility of silica-coated magnetite particles in aqueous solution was improved significantly and the agglomerate particle size was decreased to 110 nm. It was found that the agglomerate particle size of silica-coated magnetite particles was mainly decided by the coating temperature and the pH value in the silica-coating process. The weight ratio of silica in silica-coated magnetite particles was mainly decided by the pH value in the silica-coating process. The dispersibility of silica-coated magnetite particles was mainly decided by the agglomerate particle size of the suspension. The oxidation of magnetite particles in air was limited through the coated silica. The magnetism of silica-coated magnetite particles decreased slightly after silica-coating.

Size Distribution of Magnetic Marker Estimated from AC Susceptibility in Solution for Biosensor Application

The ac susceptibility of magnetic markers in solution was studied for biosensor application, where the marker consisted of magnetic nanoparticles and a coating material. From the frequency dependence of the susceptibility caused by the Brownian rotation of the marker, we estimated the distribution of marker size, which is an important parameter for biosensor application. For this purpose, we analyzed the experimental data by the singular value decomposition (SVD) method. Using this method, we can directly estimate the size distribution without assuming any distribution function. The estimated distributions were also compared with those obtained from optical dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. It was shown that the size distribution estimated by magnetic measurement (SVD) slightly shifts to a size lower than that estimated by the optical measurement (DLS). It was also shown that the frequency dependence of the susceptibility can be better explained by the size distribution estimated by the SVD method than by the distribution estimated with DLS. The difference between the magnetic and optical measurement results was discussed in terms of aggregation of the markers.

Liquid Phase Immunoassay Using Magnetic Markers and Superconducting Quantum Interference Device

A liquid phase immunoassay utilizing magnetic markers and a high-Tc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) was studied. In this method, the biological target is detected using magnetic markers, i.e., the magnetic signal from the markers that bound to the target is detected with the SQUID. The detection was performed in a solution containing both the bound and unbound (free) markers without using the so-called bound/free (BF) separation process. The bound markers were distinguished from the free markers by utilizing the Brownian rotation of the free markers. First, the properties of the free markers in the solution, such as the M–H curve and magnetic relaxation, were measured to study the background signal from the free markers. Markers that exhibit remanence were used for the experiment. Using the obtained results, we discuss the effects of the residual earth field and aggregation of the markers on the background signal. Next, we detected a fungus, Candida albicans, with the described liquid phase immunoassay. Good relationship was obtained between the detected signal and the number of fungi. The minimum detectable number of fungi was as small as 30.

Erratum:Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles under Standing Ultrasonication

本誌第56巻第4号 p. 194に掲載の榎本尚也氏，山田浩介氏，党 鋒氏，稲田 幹氏，北條純一氏の研究論文，「マグネタイトナノ粒子の合成における定在波型音場効果」の受理日が誤っておりました．下記の通り訂正させていただきます．大変ご迷惑をお掛けしましたことをここにお詫び申し上げます．（誤）Received December 4, 2004 → （正）Received December 4, 2008