Large
Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles
(∼200 nm) functionalized with gold and poly(vinylpyrrolidone)
have been synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for bioseparation
and sensing applications. The particles have been characterized using
a combination of experimental techniques including ultraviolet visible
spectroscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction,
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, superconducting
quantum interference device magnetrometry, and surface-enhanced
Raman sensing (SERS) spectroscopy. The particles have a unique surface
morphology comprised of roughened gold nodules. The surface coatings
prevent oxidation and render the particles easy to functionalize in
order to target a wide range of moieties. The gold coverage is not
only uniform across the entire particle surface but also ultrathin
so as to maintain a high percentage of the cores magnetic saturation
(∼68%) when compared to that of bare magnetite. The gold nodules
facilitate the generation of hot spots that enhance the electromagnetic
field associated with the particle surface and are therefore useful
in sensing applications like SERS, and the strong magnetic core allows
for rapid separation (∼30 s) of target molecules from solution
once they are bound to the particles.