In this study, 3,5-{Bis[4,4-difluoro, 8-(2,6-diethyl, 1,3,5,7-tetramethy1-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-sindacene)]}benzoylchloride (BODIPY) was synthesized for the improving of a new immobilized metal affinity supporting material. Firstly, the synthesized BODIPY was immobilized on iron oxide superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs) and then, Ni(II) ions were chelated with the active terminals of BODIPY on nanoparticles surfaces to prepare an immobilized metal affinity (IMA) adsorbent for protein adsorption. The amount of BODIPY coated on SPIONs was about 29.7 mu M at 10 mg nanoparticles. 738 mu mol of Ni(II) ions were loaded to 10 mg of the SPIONs/BODIPY. The binding amount of cytochrome c was found to be 170 mu g to the SPIONs/BODIPY/Ni at pH 7.4. The binding amount of the molecules on SPIONs was analyzed by using UV-vis, fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The characterization of the prepared surfaces was performed by FT-IR, SEM and TEM. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.