Synthesis and characterization of amine-functionalized Fe3O4/Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSNs) as potential nanocarriers in drug delivery systems

Abstract

Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) have shown great potential for being utilized in Nanocarriers (NCs) applications throughout the Drug Delivery System (DDS). However, there are several obstacles to make a practical magnetic NCs, such as low dispersity and high toxicity in the biological systems, and also low surface area for drug loading. In this work, magnetic NCs have been synthesized through a facile three-step process, first SPIONs were synthesized by the co-precipitation method, then decorated via mesoporous silica and finally the calcinated NCs functionalized with NH2 by a simple process in the ethanol solvent. The structure and morphology of the as-synthesized NCs have been characterized by the usage of different analyzing methods such as XRD, FTIR, TEM, FE-SEM, and TGA. Also, the magnetic properties have been investigated by the means of VSM throughout each step of the procedure. Lastly, we have applied the technique of N2 adsorption-desorption to observe the surface area, pore size, and volume. Besides optimal magnetization of final nanoparticles (30 emu/gr), the as-synthesized NCs claimed the high surface area and small diameter, at 371 m2.g-1 and 70 nm, respectively. Moreover, the functionalized NCs have demonstrated well dispersity over a day in the PBS solution. As a result, the as-prepared nanocarrier able to overcome drug delivery obstacles and used as a potential nanocarrier owing to its small diameter, high surface area/ pore volume, optimal magnetization, and well dispersity in the biological condition.