One-pot solvothermal synthesis of biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles mediated by cucurbit[n]urils

Abstract

We present a facile one-step procedure for the solvothermal synthesis of highly water-dispersible magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles mediated by cucurbit[n]urils (CB[n]s). A layer of CB[n]s was coated on the MNP surface via the portal carbonyl groups to avoid MNP agglomeration, and served as a stabilizer to impart the nanoparticles with exceptional dispersibility and stability. Significantly, the nanoparticle sizes can be controlled and fine-tuned by varying the molar ratios of CB[n]s and FeCl₃ in solution. The biocompatibility of the materials was investigated by MTT assay using normal human embryonic kidney 293T cells. The synergetic effects of combining supramolecular chemistry with magnetic nanoparticles are promising for clinical diagnosis and transportation of drugs, proteins, viruses, bacteria, etc., which offer important advantageous features for their real applications.