Magnetically mediated release of ciprofloxacin from polyvinyl alcohol based superparamagnetic nanocomposites

Polymer nanocomposites exhibiting superparamagnetic behavior have been recognized as a promising tool to achieve targeted drug delivery using external magnetic field for treating complex diseases like cancers and tumors. The present investigation attempts to design a superparamagnetic nanocomposite which could desirably deliver ciprofloxacin drug by application of varying magnetic field. In order to achieve the proposed objectives, a polymer matrix of polyvinyl alcohol-g-polymethyl methacrylate was prepared by free radical polymerization and iron oxide particles were impregnated by in situ precipitation method. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by techniques like FTIR, electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and XRD and magnetization studies were performed to ensure superparamagnetic behavior. The antibiotic drug ciprofloxacin was loaded onto the magnetic nanocomposites and the influence of various factors such as percent loading, chemical composition of the nanocomposite, applied magnetic field, pH of the release medium were investigated on the release profiles of the drug. The chemical integrity of the drug and its antibacterial potential were also studied. The dynamics of the release process was also examined mechanistically.