FACILE SOLVOTHERMAL SYNTHESIS OF MESOSTRUCTURED CHITOSAN-COATED Fe3O4 NANOPARTICLES AND ITS FURTHER MODIFICATION WITH FOLIC ACID FOR IMPROVING TARGETED DRUG DELIVERY

Abstract

Mesostructured chitosan-coated Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles (CS-coated Fe 3 O 4 NPs) were synthesized by a facile one-step solvothermal method via using chitosan as a surface-modification agent. Subsequently, the surfaces of CS-coated Fe 3 O 4 NPs were successfully conjugated with folic acid (FA) molecules to obtain FA–CS-coated Fe 3 O 4 NPs for improving targeted drug delivery. The morphology, chemical component and magnetic property of as-prepared composite nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning transmission electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Furthermore, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) as a model drug was encapsulated for investigating drug release pattern in vitro. The results show that the magnetization saturation value of FA–CS-coated Fe 3 O 4 NPs was about 28.5 emu/g, exhibiting superparamagnetic properties and mesostructure. DOX could be loaded to FA–CS-coated Fe 3 O 4 NPs with high capacity about 27.9%, and the release rate of DOX could be adjusted by the pH value. This work demonstrates that the prepared magnetic nanoparticles have potential applications in the treatment of cancer as targeting drug delivery carriers.