A novel biocompatible magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles/hydrogel based on poly (acrylic acid) grafted onto starch for controlled drug release

In this paper, a novel biocompatible magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles/hydrogel was synthesized based on the simultaneous formation of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MION) and hydrogel based on poly (acrylic acid) grafted onto starch (PAA-g-starch). The structural, morphological and magnetic properties of the optimized sample were characterized by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDAX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). In addition, the effect of external magnetic field (EMF), pH, and temperature on the swelling of the MION-PAA-g-starch hydrogel was studied. The results showed that the EMF reduced the swelling capacity of MION-PAA-g-starch hydrogel. Moreover, the in vitro release of deferasirox was studied in pH = 2 and 7 under EMF. The release curves were nicely fitted by the Korsemeyer-Peppas equation and the release followed by non-Fickian diffusion.