Superparamagnetic Chitosan Nanoparticles for a Vancomycin Delivery System: Optimized Fabrication and In Vitro Characterization

To develop a vancomycin-loaded superparamagnetic chitosan nanoparticles (Vm-SPMCNs) system for the treatment of chronic pyogenic osteoarthrosis to avoid the critical side effects caused by the systemic administration of vancomycin, the preparation process of Vm-SPMCNs was optimized by the orthogonal array design method; the optimum parameters were 1.2 g of chitosan, 0.2 g of vancomycin, 0.3 g of magnetite (Fe3O4), 12 mL of glutaraldehyde and stirring at 400 rpm. The drug loading and encapsulation efficiencies of the optimum Vm-SPMCNs were 10.30 +/- 0.42% and 79.02 +/- 1.81%. respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed that vancomycin was successfully bound to the magnetic chitosan nanoparticles. The Vm-SPMCNs were superparamagnetic particles with a diameter of 207.2 nm. The results of in vitro release tests suggested that the Vm-SPMCNs could constantly release vancomycin to maintain the concentration above the minimum inhibitory concentration for ten days, and noninvasive external magnetic stimulation could modulate the release profile according to the actual therapeutic requirements.