Aerosol-based fabrication of biocompatible organic-inorganic nanocomposites

Several novel nanoparticle composites were conveniently obtained by appropriately reacting freshly produced aerosol metal nanoparticles with soluble organic components. A serial reactor consisting of a spark particle generator coupled to a collison atomizer was used to fabricate the new materials, which included nanomagnetosols (comprising iron nanoparticles, the drug ketoprofen, and a Eudragit shell), hybrid nanogels (comprising iron nanoparticles and an N-isopropylacrylamide, NIPAM, gel), and nanoinorganics (gold immobilized silica). A fourth hybrid material, consisting of iron-gold nanoparticles and NIPAM) was obtained via an aerosol into liquid configuration, in which aerosol iron-gold particles were collected into a NIPAM/ethanol solution and then formed into nanogels with NIPAM under ultrasonic treatment. The strategy outlined in this work is potentially generalizable as a new platform for creating biocompatible nanocomposites, using only clinically approved starting materials in a single pass and under low-temperature conditions.