In this study, 9 nm superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) were functionalized by polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer. Using tetracholoroauric acid (HAuCl 4 ), magnetodendrimer (MD) samples were conjugated by gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs). Two different reducing agents, i.e. sodium borohydride and hydrazine sulfate, and pre-synthesized 10-nm Au-NP were used to evaluate the efficiency of conjugation method. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results confirmed that AuNPs produced by sodium borohydrate and the pre-synthesized 10-nm Au-NPs were capped by MDs whereas the Au-NP prepared by hydrazine sulfate as a reducing agent was entrapped by MDs. Optical properties of the MDs were studied by laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (LIF) within a wide range of visible spectrum. Also, based on the thermal analysis, all synthesized nanostructures exhibited a temperature increase using 488 nm and 514 nm wavelengths of a tunable argon laser. The new iron oxide-dendrimer-Au NPs synthesized by sodium borohydrate (IDANaBH4) produced the highest temperature increase at 488 nm whereas the other nanostructures particularly pure Au-NPs produced more heating effect at 514 nm. These findings suggest the potential application of these nanocomposites in the field of bioimaging, targeted drug delivery and controlled hyperthermia.
M. Tajabadi et al.213