Crosslinked thiolated starch coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles: Effect of montmorillonite and crosslinking density on drug delivery properties

The anti-tuberculosis drug isoniazid was incorporated within crosslinked thiolated starch coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, aiming to reach a controlled drug delivery system. The coated magnetic nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR, XRD study, and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). The morphology and dimensional characteristics of the nanoparticles were analyzed by SEM, TEM, and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) method. The drug release mechanism was studied at pH 1.2 and pH 7.4 for different time periods by UV-visible spectrophotometer. Cytotoxicity study was performed by MTT assay analysis. Mucoadhesivity study was done by in vitro wash-off and ex vivo mucoadhesive test. The incorporation of montmorillonite and crosslinking of the nanoparticles were found to improve the cell viability, mucoadhesivity, and drug release properties. The properties of the prepared nanoparticles suggested their prospects for biomedical applications.