Fabrication of mesoporous SiO2–C–Fe3O4/γ–Fe2O3 and SiO2–C–Fe magnetic composites

A synthetic method for the fabrication of silica-based mesoporous magnetic (Fe or iron oxide spinel) nanocomposites with enhanced adsorption and magnetic capabilities is presented. The successful in situ synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles is a consequence of the incorporation of a small amount of carbon into the pores of the silica, this step being essential for the generation of relatively large iron oxide magnetic nanocrystals (10 ± 3 nm) and for the formation of iron nanoparticles. These composites combine good magnetic properties (superparamagnetic behaviour in the case of SiO₂–C–Fe₃O₄/γ–Fe₂O₃ samples) with a large and accessible porosity made up of wide mesopores (>9 nm). In the present work, we have demonstrated the usefulness of this kind of composite for the adsorption of a globular protein (hemoglobin). The results obtained show that a significant amount of hemoglobin can be immobilized within the pores of these materials (up to 180 mg g⁻¹ for some of the samples). Moreover, we have proved that the composite loaded with hemoglobin can be easily manipulated by means of an external magnetic field.