Magnetism and application of NiFe@Au nanoparticles

This report describes the synthesis of magnetic NiFe@Au (i.e., NiFe core with Au shell) nanoparticles as functional spectroscopic probes. Both of the magnetic NiFe nanoparticles and its composite NiFe@Au particles were synthesized in aqueous solution. It is more analogous with the biological organism environment. The composite nanoparticles were dispersible in aqueous solution and could be directed by a magnetic field. Such NiFe@Au nanoparticles have been shown to function as magnetic and spectroscopic nanoprobes for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of molecules attached to the surface of the nanoparticles. It shows more potential functional SERS nanoprobes for biomolecular separation and detection.