Novel Phosphopeptides as Surface-Active Agents in Iron Nanoparticle Synthesis

Abstract

We report the dramatic effect of rationally-designed phosphopeptides on the size and shape of iron-iron oxide core-shell nanoparticles prepared in a one-pot synthesis by sodium borohydride reduction of an iron salt. These phosphopeptides are effective at small ratios of peptide to metal, in contrast to the behaviour of conventional capping agents, which must be added at high concentration to control the particle growth.