We report a general synthetic method for construction of size-controlled Ag-Fe3O4 heterodimeric nanoparticles using the Fe3O4 nanoparticles as the seeds. The Ag-Fe3O4 heterodimeric nanoparticle can be controlled by tuning the size of the Fe3O4 seed and reaction conditions for synthesis of the Ag nanoparticles grown on it. The as-synthesized nanoparticles can be readily converted into aqueous-soluble form with newly introduced functional groups on the surface of Ag-Fe3O4 heterodimeric nanoparticles. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.