Covalent immobilisation of magnetic nanoparticles on surfaces via strain-promoted azide–alkyne click chemistry

Herein we report the synthesis of “clickable” magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) stable in suspension in physiological media for bioorthogonal click chemistry applications. These MNPs incorporate into their coating a cyclooctynyl derivative for strain-promoted azide–alkyne (SPAAC) cycloaddition and either a polyethylene glycol or a glucose moiety to ensure MNP stability in physiological media. Their reactivity towards azide-functionalised Si surfaces was investigated, demonstrating their potential as bioorthogonal probes.