Sulfhydrylated graphene-encapsulated iron nanoparticles directly aminated with polyethylenimine: a novel magnetic nanoplatform for bioconjugation of gamma globulins and polyclonal antibodies

Abstract

This study presents for the first time the direct amination of graphene-encapsulated iron nanoparticles (GEINs) with polyethylenimine (PEI) via radical-type reaction. This work describes the first example of a direct addition of N-centered radical species onto the graphene layer. The pristine PEI and the PEI attached to GEINs have also been derivatized to introduce sulfhydryl functionalities. The proposed two-step protocol constitutes a novel, versatile and low cost method for the synthesis of polymer derivatives decorated with SH moieties. The derivatives of pristine polyethylenimine were analyzed by means of spectroscopic methods (NMR and IR), while the obtained carbon materials were studied by thermogravimetry, infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. Finally, the concomitant part of this work focused on the bioconjugation type reactions of various biocompounds, including bovine gamma-globulins and human polyclonal antibodies of class IgG, with the as-obtained sulfhydrylated GEINs–PEI nanoplatform. The presence of immobilized molecules was confirmed by thermogravimetry, protein and fluorescence assays as well as confocal microscopy images.