NiCu-silica nanoparticles as a potential drug delivery system

Abstract

Many groups have already investigated the use of NiCu magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as mediators for magnetic fluid hyperthermia, but we were the first to report the potential of NiCu MNPs as bimodal therapeutic systems, capable of simultaneous magnetic hyperthermia (MH) and targeted drug delivery. The superparamagnetic nanoparticles have a magnetic core, which enables their manipulation through an external magnetic field, a biocompatible layer, providing a surface for attachment of suitable receptors for targeting specific tissues, and a therapeutic load either incorporated inside the coating pores or hosted within internal cavities of the particles. In this study, we incorporated three model drugs with different pharmacological activity into superparamagnetic NixCu1−x nanoparticles. The superparamagnetic NixCu1−x nanoparticles were prepared using a sol–gel method, and exhibited a Curie temperature (TC) in the therapeutic range for use in MH. The nanoparticles were prepared in a silica matrix to avoid their agglomeration during thermal treatment and to provide suitable compartments for incorporation inside the pores. The release of the incorporated drugs paracetamol, bupivacaine hydrochloride, and pentoxifylline was studied using an in vitro release system, where UV–visible spectrophotometry (UV/Vis) was used for quantification of the released drug. The NixCu1−x nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/SDTA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and magnetic measurements. Surface area and pore size were determined by using BET analysis. Finally, the biocompatibility of the samples was tested on human skin-derived fibroblasts.