Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, Grenoble Institute of Engineering, Univ. Grenoble, INAC, SPINTEC, Grenoble, France, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LTM, Grenoble, France, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, DCOS, LCMC, Grenoble, France, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, INAC, MEM, Grenoble, France

This paper describes a fabrication process of monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles released in solution, based on combined 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' approaches. The process involves the use of a self-assembled PS-PMMA block copolymer formed on a sacrificial layer. Such an approach was so far mostly explored for the preparation of patterned magnetic media for ultrahigh density magnetic storage. It is here extended to the preparation of released monodisperse nanoparticles for biomedical applications. A special sacrificial layer had to be developed compatible with the copolymer self-organization. The resulting nanoparticles exhibit very narrow size dispersion (?7%) and can be good candidates as contrast agents for medical imaging i.e. magnetic resonance imaging or magnetic particle imaging. The approach provides a great freedom in the choice of the particles shapes and compositions. In particular, they can be made of biocompatible magnetic material. © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd.

block copolymer, magnetic nanoparticles, medical imaging, size dispersion

Biocompatibility, Biological materials, Block copolymers, Dispersions, Magnetic materials, Magnetic resonance imaging, Magnetic storage, Magnetism, Medical applications, Medical imaging, Nanoparticles, Biomedical applications, Block copolymer templates, Fabrication process, Magnetic nano-particles, Magnetic particle imaging, Monodisperse nanoparticles, Patterned magnetic media, Size dispersion, Nanomagnetics