Synthesis of polymer-stabilized magnetic nanoparticles and fabrication of nanocomposite fibers thereof using electrospinning

Abstract Polymer-stabilized magnetic nanoparticles were obtained using two biocompatible polyelectrolytes: N -carboxyethylchitosan (CECh) and poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) (PAMPS). The size of the particles (mean diameter 10 or 30 nm, respectively) and the stability of the dispersions could be effectively controlled depending on the polyelectrolyte nature. The presence of polyelectrolyte shell was proved by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies and confirmed by thermogravimetric analyses. Depending on the polyelectrolyte nature the magnetic nanoparticles existed in different magnetic states – superparamagnetic or intermediate state between superparamagnetic and ferrimagnetic one, as evidenced by the measurements of the magnetization and Mossbauer analyses. Fabrication of nanocomposite magnetic fibers with mean diameter in the range 100–500 nm was achieved using electrospinning of the system CECh/ferrofluid/non-ionogenic polymer.