Paper NM-WeP8
Synthesis of Small Cubic Metal Nanoparticles of Fe⁰, Co⁰ and Ni⁰ by using Calcium Hydrate as Reducing Agent

Wednesday, December 5, 2018, 4:00 pm, Room Naupaka Salon 1-3

Metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in different biomedical fields, such as tissue engineering [1], MRI contrast enhancement [2] and detection of proteins [3]. In the current study we are focusing on synthesizing metal nanoparticles (size ~20 nm). In comparison with their oxide counterparts, metal NPs with improved magnetic properties could be used as a MRI contrast agent. Our metal NPs were synthesized using metal oxide NPs, which have been synthesized beforehand by using simple one-pot pyrolysis [4]. Metal hydrate salt and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in DMF were used as starting materials. The reaction is carried out in a teflon tube that is heated in a furnace (< 200^oC). The metal oxide NPs were covered with SiO₂ and reduced using CaH₂ in a vacuum sealed tube [5]. Therefore, NPs with a cubic metal core and a SiO₂ shell coating were obtained. The crystal structure and morphology of the NPs were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Using the physical properties measurement system (PPMS), we have studied the magnetic properties of the NPs at the room temperature. As far as biomedical applications are concerned, we improved the solubility of the NPs in water. For this purpose zwitterionic dopamine sulfonate (ZDS) [6] was synthesized and used as a coating material for the NPs. Preliminary toxicology experiments of the NPs confirmed their suitability for biomedical application.