Preparation and characterization of polymer nanocomposites coated magnetic nanoparticles for drug delivery applications

In the present research work, the anticancer drug 'curcumin' is loaded with Chitosan (CS)-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (CS-PEG-PVP) polymer nanocomposites coated with super paramagnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles. The system can be used for targeted and controlled drug delivery of anticancer drugs with reduced side effects and greater efficiency. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Curcumin drug loaded Fe3O4-CS, Fe3O4-CS-PEG and Fe3O4-CS-PEG-PVP nanoparticles exhibited the mean particle size in the range of 183-390 nm with a zeta potential value of 26-41 mV as measured using Malvern Zetasizer. The encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity and in-vitro drug release behavior of curcumin drug loaded Fe3O4-CS, Fe3O4-CS-PEG and Fe3O4-CS-PEG-PVP nanoparticles were studied using UV spectrophotometer. Besides, the cytotoxicity of the prepared nanoparticles using MTT assay was also studied. The curcumin drug release was examined at different pH medium and it was proved that the drug release depends upon the pH medium in addition to the nature of matrix. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.