Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles with PDLLA Corona

The ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of D,L-lactide (DLLA) initiated by tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (Sn(Oct)₂) on the surface-initiated magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles was performed at 130 °C. Effects of the polymer molar mass and concentration on the amount of polymer on the surface were investigated. The number average molecular weights, M _n , that we obtained by both nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) methods fit well within the accuracy of the applied methods, and range from 1,100 g · mol⁻¹ to 4,040 g · mol⁻¹. The surface functionalization density for up to 3,900 initiation sites per particle was obtained. The composition of various particles with poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) corona is by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and indicates magnetite (Fe₃O₄) content between 17 wt.% and 59 wt.%. An erratum to this article can be found at