Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) are highly favored materials for a wide range of applications, from smart composite materials and biosensors to targeted drug delivery. These multifunctional applications typically require the biofunctional coating of MNPs that involves various conjugation techniques to form stable MNP-biomolecule complexes. In this study, a cost-effective method is developed for the chlorostannate modification of MNP surfaces that provides efficient one-step conjugation with biomolecules. The proposed method was validated using MNPs obtained via an optimized co-precipitation technique that included the use of degassed water, argon atmosphere, and the pre-filtering of FeCl2 and FeCl3 solutions followed by MNP surface modification using stannous chloride. The resulting chlorostannated nanoparticles were comprehensively characterized, and their efficiency was compared with both carboxylate-modified and unmodified MNPs. The biorecognition performance of MNPs was verified via magnetic immunochromatography. Mouse monoclonal antibodies to folic acid served as model biomolecules conjugated with the MNP to produce nanobioconjugates, while folic acid-gelatin conjugates were immobilized on the test lines of immunochromatography lateral flow test strips. The specific trapping of the obtained nanobioconjugates via antibody-antigen interactions was registered via the highly sensitive magnetic particle quantification technique. The developed chlorostannate modification of MNPs is a versatile, rapid, and convenient tool for creating multifunctional nanobioconjugates with applications that span in vitro diagnostics, magnetic separation, and potential in vivo uses.
Keywords: antibody conjugate; biofunctional coating; biofunctional nanomaterials; biomolecule conjugation; drug delivery; in vitro diagnostics; magnetic immunochromatography; magnetic separation; magnetite nanoparticles; magnetometry; molecular imaging; nanobioconjugation; stannous chloride; targeted therapeutics.