Controlled synthetic conditions of FePt nanoparticles with high magnetization for biomedical applications.

Monodispersed FePt nanoparticles with hydrophobic ligand were chemically synthesized and with controllable surface-functional properties. In order to enhance the saturation magnetization of FePt nanoparticles, the initial mole ratio of Fe to Pt precursors and reaction times were controlled to effectively increase magnetization due to the increased particle size and formation of FePt-Fe3O4 nanocomposites. The surface modification of FePt nanoparticles by using mercaptoacetic acid (C2H4O2S) as a phase transfer reagent through ligand exchange turned the nanoparticles hydrophilic, and the nanoparticles could water-dispersible. The streptavidin-biotin binding pair was used to conjugate with carboxylic acid (COOH) functional group on the surface of FePt nanoparticles that could be further functionalized to provide a biotin moiety for specific interactions with streptavidin protein.