Gold Iron Oxide Core Shell Nanoparticles (Au/Fe2O3, 99.9%, APS: 80-100nm, Metal Core/Metal Shell)

Gold Iron Oxide Core-Shell Nanoparticles

Gold-Iron Oxide core-shell nanoparticles are a class of nanomaterials where the core is composed of gold (Au) and the shell is made up of iron oxide (Fe₃O₄). This core-shell structure combines the unique properties of gold, which is plasmonic and biocompatible, with those of iron oxide, which is magnetic, catalytically active, and widely used in biomedical and environmental applications. The combination of these two materials in a core-shell configuration results in nanoparticles that exhibit a hybrid set of properties, making them highly versatile for use in fields such as biomedicine, catalysis, environmental remediation, and sensing.

Applications:

Biomedical Applications:

Magnetic Drug Delivery: The magnetic properties of the Fe₃O₄ shell enable magnetically targeted drug delivery, where drugs are conjugated to the Au-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and directed to specific sites in the body using an external magnetic field. This technology is particularly useful in targeted therapies such as cancer treatment, where it reduces the systemic side effects of chemotherapy.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): The iron oxide shell can be used as a contrast agent for MRI to enhance the quality of medical images. The superparamagnetic properties of Fe₃O₄ make it an effective agent for improving MRI contrast, particularly in the detection of tumors and inflammatory conditions.

Biosensing and Diagnostics: The gold core facilitates optical biosensing using plasmonic properties, which can be exploited for the detection of biomolecules, such as proteins, DNA, or pathogens. The combination of magnetic and plasmonic properties makes these nanoparticles highly sensitive for diagnostic applications.

Photothermal Therapy: The gold core can absorb light, especially in the near-infrared (NIR) region, and convert it into heat. This property is useful in photothermal therapy for cancer treatment, where Au-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles can be targeted to tumor sites and then irradiated to induce local heating, killing cancer cells.

Catalysis and Environmental Remediation:

Environmental Catalysis: The iron oxide shell offers catalytic activity for the degradation of pollutants in both air and water. The gold core can enhance the catalytic process through plasmon-enhanced catalysis. For example, Au-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles can be used for the removal of organic contaminants, heavy metals, or pesticides from industrial waste and contaminated water.

Photocatalysis: The gold core can also facilitate photocatalysis, where the Fe₃O₄ shell catalyzes oxidative reactions under light irradiation. This is useful for applications like water splitting, degradation of organic pollutants, and environmental cleanup.

Magnetic Separation: Due to the magnetic properties of the Fe₃O₄ shell, these nanoparticles can be employed in magnetic separation techniques to remove contaminants, separate valuable minerals, or purify biological samples. The magnetic properties make it easy to manipulate and recover the nanoparticles from solution.