Curcuminoids-conjugated multicore magnetic nanoparticles: Design and characterization of a potential theranostic nanoplatform

Theranostic systems have gained much attention due to their widespread biological and technological applications. In this work, we report the synthesis and characterization of a theranostic nanoplatform based on multicore magnetic iron oxide functionalized with curcuminoids (CC) and coated with silica (MNP-CC@SiO2). The physicochemical and colloidal properties of the unloaded-curcuminoids nanoplatform (MNP@SiO2) were evaluated by several techniques, including X-ray diffraction, magnetometry measurements, transmission electron microscopy, and zeta potential and dynamic light scattering. The time and maximum loading of curcuminoids onto multicore MNP (MNP-CC) were investigated by adsorption kinetic and isotherm. After the curcuminoids loading, MNP-CC was coated with amorphous silica to prevent pervasion, degradation of the curcuminoids, and providing colloidal stabilization to the system. The resulting MNP-CC@SiO2 exhibits expressive fluorescence, in addition to interesting magnetic and thermal properties. On the other hand, this device shows a negligible release of curcuminoids in sink conditions. The potential theranostic features of MNP-CC@SiO2 nanoplatform are attributed to the combination of a multicore magnetic structure with a silica coating. We argue that this should provide a versatile and multifunctional nanoplatform. It is expected to present potential biomedical applications, such as image contrast, magnetic hyperthermia treatment, cell separation, and drug delivery. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Theranostic systems based on multicore magnetic iron oxide functionalized with curcuminoids and coated with silica have been synthesized and characterized. The resulting nanoplatform exhibits expressive fluorescence, interesting magnetic and thermal properties, and negligible release of curcuminoids in sink conditions. This versatile and multifunctional nanoplatform shows potential for various biomedical applications such as image contrast, magnetic hyperthermia treatment, cell separation, and drug delivery.