Theragnostic Magnetic Core-Shell Nanoparticle as Versatile Nanoplatform for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Drug Delivery

Abstract

In this study, magnetic core-shell (MCS) nanoparticles were prepared as theragnostic potential nanoplatforms for simultaneously targeted drug delivery systems for tamoxifen and diagnosis. MCS nanoparticles were prepared in a well-shaped spherical form by the o/w emulsion method and characterized by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated spherical nanostructures' formation with the final average particle size of around 80 nm. The findings proved the superparamagnetic properties of the MCS nanoparticles with relatively high-magnetization values (11.69 emu/g), which indicate that they were sensitive enough to external magnetic fields as a magnetic drug carrier. The nanoparticles showed 8.14% and 52.19% drug loading and encapsulation efficiency, respectively. MCS nanoparticles showed sustained release behavior for 120 h in the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH= 7.4, 5.4) at 37 °C. The ratio between transverse and longitudinal relaxivity (r2/r1) value of the MCS nanoparticles was around 20, indicating their potential as a T2 MRI contrast agent. It can be concluded that the prepared MCS nanoparticles may serve as a promising carrier as an MRI contrast agent and targeted controlled anticancer drug delivery.