Highly biocompatible superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by amide of folic acid （FA） ligands and the NH2-group onto the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The as-synthesized folate-conjugated Fe3O4 nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction diffractometer, transmission electron microscope, FT-IR spectrometer, vibrating sample magnetometer, and dynamic light scattering instrument. The in vivo labeling effect of folate-conjugated Fe3O4 nanoparticles on the hepatoma cells was investigated in tumor-bearing rat. The results demonstrate that the as-prepared nanoparticles have cubic structure of Fe3O4 with a particle size of about 8 nm and hydrated diameter of 25.7 nm at a saturation magnetization of 51 A·m2/kg. These nanoparticles possess good physiological stability, low cytotoxicity on human skin fibroblasts and negligible effect on Wistar rats at the concentration as high as 3 mg/kg body mass. The folate-conjugated Fe3O4 nanoparticles could be effectively mediated into the human hepatoma Bel 7402 cells through the binding of folate and folic acid receptor, enhancing the signal contrast of tumor tissue and surrounding normal tissue in MRI imaging. It is in favor of the tumor cells labeling, tracing, magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） target detection and magnetic hyperthermia.
