Magnetic nanoparticles coated by temperature responsive copolymers for hyperthermia

Various temperature-responsive N-isopropylacrylamide-based functional copolymers were prepared and used for the stabilization of iron oxide nanoparticles. The copolymers investigated are poly( acrylic acid)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PAA-PNIPAM) and poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)b-poly(acrylate methoxy poly(ethylene oxide)) (PAA-PNIPAM-PAMPEO), with different molecular weights. The coated nanoparticles were characterized in terms of size by a combination of dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A sharp temperature transition was confirmed by particle size measurements vs. temperature. In addition, the stealthiness of the coated nanoparticles has been assessed in vitro by the haemolytic CH50 test. These measurements evidenced the crucial role of the PEO segments on the stealthiness of the nanoparticles and thus that such copolymers are particularly suitable for biomedical applications. Preliminary experiments of alternating magnetic field induced heating were performed and specific absorption rates of the various samples were recorded.