Calculated magnetophoretic mobility of a variety of magnetic compounds has identified FeCo to be an alternative for magnetite in in vitro biological cell separations. The synthesis of FeCo nanoparticles and the resulting microstructure is discussed as a function of the particle size. Their synthesis kinetics is modeled using a consecutive decomposition and growth model and is compared to experimental data. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.