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Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have a major role as contrast agent in diagnostic imaging and therapeutic monitoring. In order to research on MNP exposition, degradation and elimination of those nano composites as well as the consequences of the MNP exposition in relation with social economic relevant diseases (cancer, infectious diseases), the comprehensive characterization of magnetic and structural properties is of high importance. Within this contribution, the magnetic characterization of theranostic relevant MNPs is introduced. Applying a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), it is found, that the nanocomposites show superparamagnetic behavior and the recorded data confirm iron oxide cores (magnetite/maghemite). Employing Raman spectroscopy, the typical fingerprint information of magnetite is detected. By increasing the laser power, the transition to maghemite and hematite due to the oxidation of the magnetic core is illustrated. Moreover, IR spectroscopy is applied to characterize the coating material e.g. starch or other biocompatible polymers. To determine the stability of MNPs as well as the MNP’s elimination under physiological conditions, different buffer systems were tested i.e. simulated body fluid (SBF) and artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF). The investigated MNPs are stable in SBF; thus, the stability in blood after injection of the contrast agent is guaranteed. Finally, the storage in ALF leads to a complete decomposition of the MNPs, which reflects the conditions in lysosomes and guarantee for a fast MNP elimination.
Acknowledgement: We thank the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany as well as the Project Management Jülich (PTJ), Germany for funding the research project NanoBEL (03XP0003F).
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