Hydrogel nanocomposite based on starch and Co-doped zinc ferrite nanoparticles that shows magnetic field-responsive drug release changes

Despite the promising pharmacological properties of curcumin, the transport and effective release of curcumin is still a challenge. The advances in functionalized nanocarriers for curcumin have also been motivated by the anticancer activity of this natural compound, aiming at targeted therapies. Here, stealth (aqueous and solid) magnetoliposomes containing calcium-substituted magnesium ferrite nanoparticles, CaxMg1−xFe2O4 (with x = 0.25, 0.50, 0.75) were developed as nanocarriers for curcumin. The magnetic nanoparticles exhibit superparamagnetic properties and crystalline structure, with sizes below 10 nm. The magnetoliposomes based on these nanoparticles have hydrodynamic diameters around or below 150 nm and a low polydispersity. The influence of an alternating magnetic field (AMF) on drug release over time was evaluated and compared with curcumin release by diffusion. The results suggest the potential of drug-loaded magnetoliposomes as nanocarriers that can be magnetically guided to the tumor sites and act as agents for a synergistic effect combining magnetic hyperthermia and controlled drug release.

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Zero-Dimensional Graphene and Its Behavior under Mechanochemical Activation with Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles

MRS Advances ◽

10.1557/adv.2019.400 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (33-34) ◽

pp. 1731-1737 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Monica Sorescu ◽

Matthew Knauss ◽

Alice Perrin ◽

Michael McHenry

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Particle Size ◽

Magnetic Properties ◽

Isomer Shift ◽

Ball Milling ◽

Quadrupole Splitting ◽

Applied Magnetic Field ◽

Zinc Ferrite ◽

Mechanochemical Activation ◽

Ferrite Nanoparticles

ABSTRACTEquimolar mixtures of zero-dimensional graphene (SkySpring Nanomaterials, 1-5 nm particle size) and zinc ferrite nanoparticles (Alfa Aesar, 50 nm particle size) were exposed to mechanochemical activation by high-energy ball milling for time intervals of 0-12 hours. Their structural and magnetic properties were analyzed by Mӧssbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. The spectra of zinc ferrite milled without graphene were fitted with one quadrupole-split doublet (quadrupole splitting 0.5 mm/s, isomer shift 0.23 mm/s) and indicated that zinc ferrite was superparamagnetic. The line width of the doublet increased from 0.41 to 0.64 mm/s, which correlates with a reduction in particle size as effect of the ball milling processing performed. When graphene was added to the milling powders, the Mӧssbauer spectra showed the appearance of another quadrupole doublet, with a quadrupole splitting of 0.84 mm/s and an isomer shift of -0.38 mm/s. Its abundance to the spectrum remained constant to 4.48% while the milling time was increased. This second doublet could be related to carbon atoms occupying neighborhoods in the proximity of iron atoms. Hysteresis loops were recorded in an applied magnetic field of 5 T at a temperature of 5 K. A change in the approach to saturation of the loop was observed, with saturation being achieved for the sample milled for 12 hours with graphene. Zero-field-cooling-field-cooling (ZFC-FC) was performed on all samples between 5-300 K with an applied magnetic field of 200 Oe. Graphene was found to stabilize the magnetic properties of the milled system of powders to a blocking temperature of about 90 K.

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