Nanoscale and Nanoscale Advances are delighted to introduce the new themed collection “Magnetic Nanoparticles: From Massart Method to a Cascade of Innovations”. All articles in the collection are free to read from 01 September until 12 October 2026.
Magnetic nanoparticles are a class of materials that exhibit unique superparamagnetic properties due to their nanoscale size and high surface-to-volume ratio. The synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles is central to their widespread use, with several methods developed over the years to produce them in a controlled, reproducible manner.
One of the most well-known and widely adopted methods is the alkaline co-precipitation method developed by Prof. René Massart in the early 1980s. Originally conducted in water (though it can be adapted to a dispersed state in less polar media), it is a widely used, cost-effective technique for synthesizing magnetic nanoparticles, especially iron oxide (magnetite and maghemite), as well as other spinel-structured metal oxides (e.g., cobalt, manganese, and zinc ferrites). Known for its simplicity, up-scalability, and ability to relatively control particle size and magnetic properties, the Massart process is extensively employed for producing nanomaterials for in biomedical, environmental, and industrial applications due to its efficiency and versatility in producing large quantities of tailored nanoparticles.
This themed collection aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the advances in the field of magnetic nanoparticle research, by covering its different facets ranging from rational design of synthesis processes to improved properties dispersion states, and end applications.
In tribute to René Massart, this collection covers various aspects of magnetic nanoparticles, including:
- Synthesis and design of magnetic nanoparticles
- Characterization of magnetic nanoparticle structure, dynamics, and properties
- Surface functionalization and dispersion state of magnetic nanoparticles
- New methodologies of magnetic nanoparticles synthesis in the bulk
- Flow chemistry synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles
- Study of nucleation and growth of magnetic nanoparticles
- Multifunctional magnetic based nanoparticles, including (bio)organic nano-assemblies and nano(bio)hybrids
- Structure-properties relationships of magnetic nanoparticles and magnetic based nano(bio)hybrids
- Biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles (targeted drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic particle imaging (MPI), hyperthermia treatment, and in vitro or in vivo biodegradation studies
- Environmental applications (water treatment and micropollutant detection or removal)
- Industrial or energy-related applications (magnetic storage media, seals, valves, construction materials, and magnetically boosted catalysis, e.g., for clean hydrogen production)
This themed collection is being guest edited by, Ali Abou-Hassan (Sorbonne University, France), Professors Nguyễn T. K. Thanh (University College London, United Kingdom), Teresa Pellegrino (Italian Institute of Technology, Italy ), Anna Cristina S. Samia (Case Western Reserve University, United States), Olivier Sandre (University of Bordeaux, France) and Lise-Marie Lacroix (Toulouse University, France).
Editorial
Reviews
- Magnetic hyperthermia in focus: emerging non-cancer applications of magnetic nanoparticles
- Magnetically driven, plant-extract-modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles for sustainable and eco-friendly wastewater detoxification: recent developments
- Massart iron oxide nanoparticles in mechanobiology
- Catalysis under magnetic control: magnetic nanoparticles as next-generation bioorthogonal reactors
Communications
- How octopod Mn–Fe oxide nanoparticle tracers minimize relaxation time and enhance MPI resolution
- Synthesis and characterization of platinum-decorated iron carbide nanoparticles and their potential for magnetically induced catalysis
- Tailoring inter-core distance of clustered SPIONs using silica spacers for enhanced magnetic particle imaging (MPI)
- Flow synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles: using multiple precursor additions to improve size control
Articles
- Insights into the formation of free radicals using metal ferrite nanocatalysts (MFe2O4, M = Fe, Mn, Zn, Co) prepared by a highly reproducible microwave-assisted polyol method
- Polyoxazoline functionalized magnetic spinel iron oxide nanoparticles for efficient removal of pharmaceuticals and heavy metal ions from water
- Dual field magnetic separation for improved size fractionation of magnetic nanoparticles
- Micromagnetic structure of oxidized magnetite nanoparticles: sharp structural versus diffuse magnetic interface
- Effects of static electric field and temperature on the dynamic dielectric responses of mixed oil-based and bilayer-stabilised magnetic fluids
- Single-particle ICP-MS characterization of magnetoliposomes: toward measurement of the number distribution of encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles
- Esterification synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticle tracers for magnetic particle imaging (MPI)
- Iron oxide nanocube assembly on silver nanowire templates to enhance magnetic hyperthermia performance
- Endovascular administration and magnetic retention of nanocapsules for improved brain delivery in large cerebral vascular models
- Size effects in magnetic separation for rapid and efficient bacteria removal
- Enhancing colloidal stability of anisotropic magnetic nanodiscs through mesoporous silica and P(NIPAM/MAA) copolymer coatings
- Albumin coating of magnetic nanoparticles for imaging, tracking and delivery through biological barriers
- Compositional control of the effective magnetic anisotropy in Mn and Co substituted spinel nanoparticles
- Smart pH-responsive magnetic iron oxide nanoflower–chitosan nanogels for controlled drug delivery in cancer therapy
- SLPcalculator: a web-based tool to estimate nanoparticle heating with peak analysis and F-test
- Translating magnetic fluid hyperthermia toward lung cancer treatment
- Hard meets soft: tuning binary ferrofluids
- Comparison of magnetic nanoparticle immobilization methods using MPS and MRX
- Influence of particle size, shape, and magnetic properties on torque-driven biofilm removal using anisotropic magnetic particles
- Integrating green chemistry into SPION development: a theranostic study on prostate cell models
- Reassessing the role of carbon shells in magnetite nanoparticles: a comparative adsorption study of ionic dyes
- Synthesis of ultrasmall Fe-based nanoparticles with tunable magnetic properties: the effect of NHC ligands
- Proximity effects, exchange bias and magnetic relaxation in γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles
- Palladium-containing magnetic UiO-66–NH2 as a highly powerful and recoverable nanocatalyst for the reduction of nitrobenzenes
- Room-temperature acetone gas sensing using Sm-doped Co–Zn ferrite nanoparticles: role of mesoporosity and oxygen vacancies in enhancing sensor response
- Influence of coprecipitation synthesis parameters on the physicochemical properties and biological effects of iron oxide nanoparticles
- Magnetic resorcinol-formaldehyde supported Schiff-base/Cu as a robust and recoverable nanocatalyst for the synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyrans
- Selective magnetic particle imaging of CD44 expressing cells using iron oxide nanoprobes functionalized with chemically modified hyaluronan
- Magnetite nanodiscs as vortex-enhanced MRI contrast agents: a novel approach in medical imaging
- Biomarker-targeted functionalized magnetic nanoparticles: synthesis and aptamer conjugation optimization toward Alzheimer’s disease biosensing
- Evidence of dipolar magnetic interactions in the self-assembly of two-dimensional magnetic nanocubes
- Surfactant-coated iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized by coprecipitation as potential phosphate adsorbents in peritoneal dialysis
- Investigation of the chemical structure of core–shell Fe3O4@Ni1−xCoxFe2O4 nanoparticles and its influence on their magnetic properties
- Combining high throughput and precision: millifluidic production of magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical applications
- Tuning field amplitude to minimise heat-loss variability in magnetic hyperthermia
- Solution synthesis of antiferromagnetic manganese nanoparticles
- Magnetic nanoparticles as transducers for quick and direct virus detection in clinical samples
- A magnetic hybrid sol–gel ionic network catalyst for direct alcohol esterification under solvent-free conditions
- Biodegradable PBAT@CoFe2O4 foils as magnetically active photothermal materials for smart surface heating
- Ligand-controlled Fe3O4 nanoparticles as reusable adsorbents for dye removal in the chemical recycling of coloured polyester textiles
- Amine- and hydroxyl-functionalization of iron nanoparticles for tailoring the properties of Fmoc-FF-based magnetic hydrogels: interfacial design toward biocompatible materials
- Decoding magnetization and magnetic anisotropy in core@shell ferrite nanoparticles: interplay between cation distribution and spin disorder
- From degradation to (re)magnetization: magnetic reprogramming of maghemite (Massart), magnetite, cobalt ferrite and ferrihydrite nanoparticles by human stem cells
- Synthesis of YIG and Bi-YIG nanoparticles by coprecipitation and thermal treatment: towards magnetic liquids with controlled magneto-optical properties
- Dispersions of magnetic nanoparticles in dense ionic fluids – influence of water and of the solid/liquid interface on the colloidal and transport properties
- Effect of synthesis method on the structural properties and magnetic behavior of LnFeO3 (Ln = La, Nd, Sm, and Gd) nanoparticles
- A Swiss army knife for the treatment of bone cancers: a new multifunctional platform based upon SPIONs@copper-doped bioactive glass core–shell nanoparticles
We are always looking for the great research on magnetic nanoparticles and nanomaterials, get in touch with the Editorial Office if are interested in submitting your work to the journal by emailing nanoscale-rsc@rsc.org.
