The preparation of magnetic proteinaceous microspheres using the sonochemical method

Using high-intensity ultrasound, we have developed a method for the synthes is of magnetic microspheres. The microspheres are composed of iron oxide-fi lled and coated globular bovine serum albumin (BSA). The magnetic microsphe res are prepared from BSA and iron pentacarbonyl, or from BSA and iron acet ate. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy show spherical particles. The particle size distributions are gaussian, with a mean diameter of a few micrometers. Using chemical analysis, it was found t hat the total percentage of iron oxide in the microspheres is between 39% a nd 42%, Mossbauer measurements were also performed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scien ce B.V. All rights reserved.