Aminophenylboronic　acid　(APBA)-functionalized　magnetic　iron　oxide　nanoparticles　(Fe3O4　MNPs)　were　synthesized　for　the　selective　capture　of　glycoproteins　from　unfractionated　protein　mixtures.　The　morphology,　adsorption,　and　recognition　properties　of　the　resultant　particles　were　investigated　and　uniform　size　APBA-coated　MNPs　with　a　mean　diameter　of　∼15　nm　and　high　magnetic　saturation　value　of　30.6　emu　g-1　were　obtained,　which　endued　the　adsorbent　with　a　large　surface　area　and　convenience　of　isolation.　The　selectivity　and　binding　capacity　of　APBA-coated　MNPs　were　evaluated　by　using　standard　glycoproteins　(cellulose　and　ovalbumin)　and　nonglycoproteins　(bovine　hemoglobin,　bovine　serum　albumin　and　lysozyme)　as　model　samples.　Adsorption　experiments　and　SDS-PAGE　demonstrated　that　the　APBA-coated　MNPs　had　higher　binding　capacity　and　selectivity　for　glycoproteins　compared　to　nonglycoproteins.　In　addition,　the　practicability　of　the　as-prepared　MNPs　was　further　assessed　by　specific　capture　of　ovalbumin　from　an　egg　white　sample.　©　2011　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.