Fabrication of succinic acid-γ-Fe₂O₃ nano core-shells

Core-shell nano-structures were synthesized by adsorbing succinic acid on γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (hereafter referred to as core-shell nanoparticles or core-shells). Streptomycin was chosen as a model drug to attach on γ-Fe₂O₃ core-shells. Vibration spectroscopic data confirmed the specific adsorption of organic ligands (i.e., succinic acid or streptomycin) onto γ-Fe₂O₃ via bi-dentate, bi-nuclear complex. Possible molecular configurations between organic ligands and γ-Fe₂O₃ were examined by density functional theory (DFT) using Fe₆(OH)₁₈(H₂O)₆ ring cluster. The measured vibration frequencies and bond distances (i.e., FeOFe, FeO_w, and FeOH units) of the optimized γ-Fe₂O₃ cluster matched well with the calculations.