[Preparation of polyelectrolyte microcapsules containing ferrosoferric oxide nanoparticles]

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Layer-by-layer assembly is a versatile technique for fabricating multilayered nanostructures.
• Biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles offer potential for targeted drug delivery and diagnostics.
• Polyelectrolyte microcapsules provide a versatile platform for encapsulating therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate biocompatible magnetic polyelectrolyte microcapsules using ferrosoferric oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) and polyallyamine hydrochloride (PAH).
• To characterize the morphology, magnetic properties, and drug encapsulation capabilities of the synthesized microcapsules.
• To evaluate the potential of these microcapsules for pH-sensitive drug delivery.

Main Methods:

• Fe3O4 NPs were synthesized via chemical co-precipitation and characterized using TEM and IR spectroscopy.
• Layer-by-layer assembly was employed to construct multilayered films on quartz substrates and CaCO3 microparticles.
• Microcapsules were formed by alternate self-assembly of Fe3O4 NPs and PAH on CaCO3 templates, followed by template removal.
• Characterization techniques included SEM, Zetasizer, and VSM for morphology, size, and magnetic properties.
• Encapsulation efficiency and drug loading were determined using Rhodamin B isothiocyanate labeled bovine serum albumin (RBITC-BSA) as a model drug at pH 5.0.

Main Results:

• Fe3O4 NPs exhibited selective deposition on quartz substrates, indicating good film-forming capability.
• Fabricated microcapsules displayed superparamagnetism with a size of 4.9 ± 1.2 µm and saturation magnetization of 8.94 emu/g.
• The microcapsules demonstrated pH-sensitive drug encapsulation, achieving an efficiency of 86.08 ± 3.36% and drug loading of 8.01 ± 0.30 mg/mL at pH 5.0.

Conclusions:

• Biocompatible magnetic polyelectrolyte microcapsules were successfully fabricated using Fe3O4 NPs and PAH.
• The superparamagnetic nature and controllable size of the microcapsules make them suitable for magnetic manipulation.
• The pH-sensitive encapsulation properties suggest potential applications in targeted and controlled drug delivery systems.