Abstract

Background: Application of magnetic nanoparticles as a drug delivery system has attracted great attention in the cancer therapy, interests in the pH and thermo-sensitive polymers have been increased exponentially in biomedicine.

Objective: (N-isopropylacrylamide)-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate copolymer was coated on the surface of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles and utilized as a pH and temperature responsive nanocarrier for encapsulation and delivery of doxorubicin, as an anti-cancer drug.

Method: First, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared through the chemical co-precipitation method and then coated by poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate copolymer shell. The synthesized nanocarrier were later used as a drug carrier for the DOX drug delivery.

Results: Nanocarriers were characterized by a number of techniques i.e. scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS(X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The effects of pH and temperature on the drug release rate were evaluated. The obtained result revealed that doxorubicin release rate of the polymer is temperature and pH dependent, which are desirable properties for a selective delivery system. At the end of 72 h, only 15% of doxorubicin had been released in pH 7.4 conditions comparing to that of 58% in pH 5.8 acidic conditions at 40°C.

Conclusion: This project improves the delivery of anti-cancer drug. The preparation of this nanocarrier was simple and fast and the prepared sorbent is biocompatible.

Keywords: Controlled release, doxorubicin, poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) magnetic nanocomposite, selective drug delivery, TGA, XRD.

Graphical Abstract