Abstract

Iron oxide nanoparticles with diameters of 20.1 and 8.5 nm coated with phospholipids containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) tails were studied using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and magnetometry. Novel SAXS data analysis methods are applied to build three-dimensional structural models of the nanoparticles coated with PEGylated phospholipids in aqueous solution. The SAXS data demonstrate that the density inside iron oxide nanoparticles is not uniform and depends on the nanoparticle size, which in turn is dependent on the reaction conditions. This heterogeneity is attributed to the presence of two crystalline phases, spinel and wüstite, in the nanoparticles. Because of magnetic properties, the nanoparticles in solution associate in flexible dynamic clusters consisting on average of four individual cores. The magnetometry further supports the SAXS-based models.

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Dragnea Research is at the forefront of multidisciplinary innovation, exploring the intersection of nanoscale optics, quantum photonics, physical virology, and bio-architected hybrid materials with 3D nanoscale order. Their latest publications highlight groundbreaking advancements in fields such as self-assembly, optics and spectroscopy, and the physical manipulation of virus-like particles (VLPs) for chemical imaging and surface modifications. Drawing from their expertise in using near-field scanning techniques and laser-induced effects, these works showcase how nanoscale phenomena can be harnessed for applications in material science, virology, and beyond. The accompanying visual mosaic underscores the diverse range of their research, from probing molecular dynamics to the development of 3D-ordered structures, all united by a commitment to pushing the boundaries of applied and theoretical science.