Mesoporous magnetic microspheres for drug targeting

Magnetic mesoporous silica microparticles have been synthesised following the evaporation induced self-assembly route and assisted by an aerosol method. The silica microparticles show an ordered hexagonal mesoporous structure with high values of surface area and pore volume., Up to 11% in weight of gamma-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles can be incorporated within the silica microparticles without disrupting the mesoporous structure. The gamma-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles are single crystals and exhibit superparamagnetic behaviour before and after being incorporated in the silica microspheres. Finally, in vitro studies of drug loading and release indicate that the magnetic mesoporous spheres are excellent candidates as vehicles for magnetic drug targeting. (C) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.