Polysaccharide-coated iron oxide nanoparticles: Synthesis, properties, surface modification

•Magnetite nanoparticles coated with arabinogalactan and chitosan were synthesized.•Immobilization of biospecific molecules on the nanoparticle surface was studied.•The obtained samples are characterized by a high density of immobilized molecules.•Such nanoparticles can be used in bioanalytical systems or as affinity sorbents.