Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles embedded in a SiO 2 matrix have been synthesized by sol-gel chemistry and high temperature heat treatments. Virtually pure -Fe 2 O 3 (in excess of 93%) is obtained, although a two-phase mixture, -Fe 2 O 3 + R-Fe 2 O 3 , is observed for Fe 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ratios greater than 37 wt %. The -Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles are stable up to ∼1600 K. Optimized -Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles are ferrimagnetic, with a Curie temperature T C ≈ 510 K, and remarkably high values of room-temperature coercivity, H C ) 20 kOe.

A one-step process for the production of nanoparticles presenting advanced magnetic properties can be achieved using vapor condensation. In this paper, we report on the fabrication of Fe particles covered by a uniform MgO epitaxial shell. MgO has a lower surface energy than Fe, which results in a core-shell crystal formation. The particles are proven to be useful as as contrast agents for magnetic resonance diagnosis and heating mediators for cancer therapy through hyperthermia. They also have potential to be used in drug delivery and magnetic-activated cell sorting.Dear Editor, Enclosed is the paper "Self-assembled Multifunctional Fe/MgO Nanospheres for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Hyperthermia" by Carlos Martínez-Boubeta et al. for your consideration as a potential contribution in the NanoMedicine. The manuscript, or any part of it, is not and will not be submitted elsewhere for publication while under consideration by Nanomedicine. All authors have seen and approved the submission of this manuscript.While a huge number of methods have been developed for the scalable synthesis and preparation of inorganic metal and semiconductor nanoparticles, only a few specialized techniques were reported for the preparation of coreshell nanoparticles. In this paper, we reported a novel and versatile technique for the preparation of injectable nanoparticle dispersions suitable to act as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. Our ferromagnetic particles * Cover LetterWe wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.The manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed. We further confirm that the order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all of us.We confirm that we have given due consideration to the protection of intellectual property associated with this work and that there are no impediments to publication, including the timing of publication, with respect to intellectual property. In so doing we confirm that we have followed the regulations of our institutions concerning intellectual property.We further confirm that any aspect of the work covered in this manuscript that has involved either experimental animals or human patients has been conducted with the ethical approval of all relevant bodies and that such approvals are acknowledged within the manuscript.Signed by all authors as follows:[LIST AUTHORS, and SIGNATURES dated on June 20 th , except otherwise stated]We suggest the following as the possible reviewers of this work: Jian-Ping Wang

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