Fe 3 O 4– SiO 2 core–shell structure nanoparticles containing magnetic properties were investigated for their potential use in drug delivery. The Fe 3 O 4– SiO 2 core–shell structure nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by a simple and convenient way. The Fe 3 O 4– SiO 2 nanoparticles showed superparamagnetic behavior, indicating a great application potential in separation technologies. From the application point of view, the prepared nanoparticles were found to act as an efficient drug carrier. Specifically, the surface of the core–shell nanoparticles was modified with amino groups by use of silane coupling agent 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS). Doxorubicin (DOX) was successfully grafted to the surface of the core–shell nanoparticles after the decoration with the carboxyl acid groups on the surface of amino-modified core–shell structure nanoparticles. Moreover, the nanocomposite showed a good drug delivery performance in the DOX-loading efficiency and drug release experiments, confirming that the materials had a great application potential in drug delivery. It is envisioned that the prepared materials are the ideal agent for application in medical diagnosis and therapy.
