Bovine serum albumin stabilized iron oxide and gold bimetallic heterodimers: Synthesis,characterization and Stereological study

In this time researchers make a great efforts to develop new hybrid nanoparticles for medical and pharmaceutical applications. Fe₃O₄‐Au hybrid heterodimers have been prepared with superior properties for various claims. Unfortunately, Fe₃O₄‐Au heterodimers are not stable in the physiological medium. In this study, we employed the albumin macromolecules as a stabilizer of Fe₃O₄‐Au hybrid nanoparticles (noted as Fe₃O₄‐Au‐BSA hybrid nanoparticles). After characterization of synthesized nanoparticles by FTIR, UV–Vis, TEM, DLS, DSC, VSM and XRD techniques, the in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility of these nanoparticles were also evaluated. We encountered with an amazing result which confirmed nanoparticles could be stabilized by linking the BSA on the surface of Fe₃O₄‐Au heterodimers. Also, intravenous injection of Fe₃O₄‐Au‐BSA hybrid nanoparticles up to 400 mg/kg to Balb C mice show that these nanoparticles were non‐toxic. The biocompatibility and stereological study had been performed for more than 30 days after nanoparticles administration, using hystomorphometric analysis. Remarkably, to the best of our knowledge, it was the first time the biocompatibility and biodegradability of Fe₃O₄‐Au were studied and evaluated by stereological technique. Further promotion and biomedical usage of this type of hybrid nanoparticles are underway in our laboratory.