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Nanomagnetite-embedded PLGA Spheres for Multipurpose Medical Applications
Valentina Grumezescu1, Oana Gherasim2,3, Irina Negut2
1Lasers Department, National Institute for Lasers, Plasma, and Radiation Physics, 077125 Magurele, Romania. valentina.grumezescu@inflpr.ro.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 11, 2019
Summary
New biopolymeric spheres containing magnetite nanoparticles and ibuprofen show potential for triggered drug delivery. These materials also exhibit biocompatibility and antimicrobial properties, particularly those with added chitosan.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) based composite microspheres are investigated for advanced biomedical applications.
- Incorporation of magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) and chitosan (CS) aims to enhance drug release control and introduce antimicrobial properties.
- Ibuprofen (IBUP) is used as a model drug to evaluate the release kinetics of the developed systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel biopolymeric spheres for drug delivery.
- To evaluate the triggered drug release capabilities of PLGA-Fe3O4-IBUP microspheres under magnetic field stimulation.
- To assess the biocompatibility, bioactivity, and antimicrobial efficacy of the developed composite spheres.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) spheres with varying magnetite nanoparticle and ibuprofen content, with some formulations also including chitosan.
- Morphological, structural, and compositional characterization of the synthesized microspheres.
- In vitro drug release studies under dynamic conditions and external radiofrequency magnetic fields.
- Biological assessment on macrophage cultures to evaluate biocompatibility and cellular interactions.
- Antimicrobial testing against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans.
Main Results:
- PLGA-Fe3O4-IBUP microspheres with lower Fe3O4 content demonstrated optimal triggered drug release under magnetic field stimulation, potentially linked to hyperthermia.
- The composite spheres were found to be biocompatible and bioactive, promoting macrophage adhesion and proliferation.
- Significant inhibition of microbial growth and biofilm formation was observed against tested bacterial and fungal strains.
- Chitosan-containing formulations exhibited markedly enhanced antimicrobial effects irrespective of the microbial type.
Conclusions:
- The developed nanostructured composite biopolymeric spheres are promising platforms for prolonged and controlled drug release.
- The combination of PLGA, Fe3O4, and CS offers a versatile system for multipurpose biomedical applications, including drug delivery and antimicrobial therapy.
- The triggered release capability under magnetic fields opens avenues for localized and responsive therapeutic interventions.
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