Investigation of magnetic nanoparticle-polymer composites for multiple-controlled drug delivery

We present preliminary results obtained in the development of multiple-controlled drug delivery vehicles using magnetic nanoparticle-polymer composites. Two types of magnetic nanoparticle-polymer composites were prepared and tested for their potential as drug delivery systems with multiple controls (magnetically and thermally induced controlled delivery). These studies focused on the release of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) from poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), containing either magnetite or cobalt nanoparticles, by changing the sample temperature or by exposing it to an oscillating magnetic field. The magnetite-PMMA and cobalt-PMMA composites were 250 mu m or less in size and were superparamagnetic. The investigations reported here demonstrated that the release of FITC from magnetite-PMMA particles can be induced thermally but not magnetically. There was no release of FITC from cobalt-PMMA composites either through thermal or magnetic induction. Characterization of the composites included transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy for size and morphology and elemental analysis for iron and cobalt content. Synchrotron radiation-based X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy analysis was carried out to determine chemical, electronic, and geometric properties, and a superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer was utilized for measuring the magnetic properties of the composites.