Magnetic/gold nanoparticle functionalized biocompatible microcapsules with sensitivity to laser irradiation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Development of advanced drug delivery systems is crucial for targeted therapies.
• Microcapsules offer a versatile platform for encapsulating therapeutic agents.
• Incorporating nanoparticles can impart unique functionalities to microcapsules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize nanocomposite microcapsules containing gold and magnetite nanoparticles.
• To investigate the formation process of nanocomposite multilayer shells.
• To evaluate the magnetic and optical properties for potential biomedical applications.

Main Methods:

• Layer-by-layer assembly using biocompatible polyelectrolytes and nanoparticles.
• Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) for monitoring multilayer formation.
• Atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) for characterization.

Main Results:

• Nanocomposite microcapsules successfully fabricated with gold and magnetite nanoparticles in the shell.
• Nanoparticle adsorption was size-dependent, with smaller gold nanoparticles showing higher concentration.
• Gold nanoparticle adsorption was more efficient than magnetite nanoparticle adsorption.
• Microcapsules exhibited dual magnetic and optical responses, enabling magnetic field manipulation and laser-induced opening.

Conclusions:

• The developed nanocomposite microcapsules possess dual magnetic and optical functionalities.
• These microcapsules demonstrate potential for controlled positioning and triggered release in biomedical applications.
• The findings suggest promising avenues for advanced drug delivery and diagnostic tools.