This article is the first report showing the human serum albumin (HSA) binding studies by using a new magnetite nanoparticle containing azacrown ether moieties via solid-liquid extraction process. The structure of the newly prepared magnetite nanoparticle was clarified by using attenuated total reflectance (ATR) infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-vis and elemental analysis. Analytic results indicated that modification of the surface of the magnetite nanoparticles with azacrown ether derivative was successfully carried out. The protein binding studies exhibited that the modified magnetite nanoparticles could be efficiently used for the binding of the human serum albumin (HSA) in aqueous solutions via non-covalent interaction between crown ether cavity and amino group of the protein. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2013 The Polymer Society of Korea and Springer Sciene+Business Media Dordrecht.