Magnetoresponsive On-Demand Release of Hybrid Liposomes Formed from Fe3O4 Nanoparticles and Thermosensitive Block Copolymers

A new approach to control the release of encapsulated materials from liposomes by using thermosensitive block copolymers and magnetic nanoparticles is reported. Hydrophobized Fe3O4 nanoparticles are synthesized via the hydrothermal process, and can be incorporated into liposomal membranes by hydrophobic interactions. Thermosensitive block copolymers of (2-ethoxy) ethoxyethyl vinyl ether (EOEOVE) and octadecyl vinyl ether (ODVE) are synthesized by living cationic polymerization. The poly(EOEOVE) block acts as a temperature-sensitive moiety, and the poly(ODVE) block acts as an anchor unit. Hybrid liposomes encapsulating pyranine, a water-soluble fluorescent dye, are prepared from mixtures of phospholipids, the hydrophobized Fe3O4 nanoparticles, and the copolymer. While the hybrid liposomes released negligible amounts of pyranine under static conditions, the release of pyranine is drastically enhanced by alternating magnetic field irradiation. The magnetically induced release is attributed to the transition of the thermosensitive segment of the copolymer, which is caused by the release of localized heat from the Fe3O4 nanoparticles under magnetic stimuli, rather than the rupture of the capsules. The release rate of the hybrid capsules is controlled by varying the amount of Fe3O4 nanoparticles embedded into the liposomes.