Magnetic/luminescent core/shell particles synthesized by spray pyrolysis and their application in immunoassays with internal standard

Abstract

Many types of fluorescent nanoparticles have been investigated as alternatives to conventional organic dyes in biochemistry; magnetic beads also have a long history of biological applications. In this work we apply flame spray pyrolysis in order to engineer a novel type of nanoparticle that has both luminescent and magnetic properties. The particles have magnetic cores of iron oxide doped with cobalt and neodymium and luminescent shells of europium-doped gadolinium oxide (Eu:Gd2O3). Measurements by vibrating sample magnetometry showed an overall paramagnetic response of these composite particles. Luminescence spectroscopy showed spectra typical of the Eu ion in a Gd2O3 host—a narrow emission peak centred near 615 nm. Our synthesis method offers a low-cost, high-rate synthesis route that enables a wide range of biological applications of magnetic/luminescent core/shell particles. Using these particles we demonstrate a novel immunoassay format with internal luminescent calibration for more precise measurements.