| Abstract
| - Magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were facilely prepared by the electrostatic self-assemblyapproach. Poly(2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA) was covalently grafted onto the surfaces ofMWNTs by MWNT-initiated in situ atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2-diethylaminoethylmethacrylate (DEAEMA). The PDEAEMA-grafted MWNTs were quaternized with methyl iodide (CH3I),resulting in cationic polyelectrolyte-grafted MWNTs (MWNT-PAmI). Magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were loaded onto the MWNT surfaces by electrostatic self-assembling between MWNT-PAmI andFe3O4, affording magnetic nanotubes. The assembled capability of the nanoparticles can be adjusted to someextent by changing the feed ratio of Fe3O4 to MWNT-PAmI. The obtained magnetic nanotubes werecharacterized with TEM, EDS, STEM, and element mapping analyses. TEM and EDS measurements confirmedthe nanostructures and the components of the resulting nanoobjects. The magnetic nanotubes were assembledonto sheep red blood cells in a phosphate buffer solution, forming magnetic cells. The blood cells attachedwith or without magnetic nanotubes can be selectively manipulated in a magnetic field. These results promisea general and efficient strategy to magnetic nanotubes and the fascinating potential of such magnetic nanoobjectsin applications of bionanoscience and technology.
|
