Amine-Functionalized NiCoFe₂O₄ Nanoparticle-Embedded Sodium Alginate/Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel Beads as a...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Metal oxide nanoparticle-loaded hydrogel beads offer advanced controlled release systems.
• Amine-functionalized nickel cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (ANiCoFe NPs) are explored for drug delivery.
• Sodium alginate/polyvinyl alcohol (SAPVA) hydrogels provide a versatile matrix for nanoparticle encapsulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize ANiCoFe NPs embedded in SAPVA hydrogel beads.
• To investigate the controlled release of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) from these hydrogel beads.
• To evaluate the pH-responsive behavior and cytotoxicity of the developed drug delivery system.

Main Methods:

• ANiCoFe NPs synthesized via chemical co-precipitation.
• Hydrogel beads prepared using ionotropic gelation.
• Characterization using FTIR, XRD, TGA; in vitro release studies at different pH; cytotoxicity assays on MCF-7 and MCF-10 cells.

Main Results:

• SEM revealed a porous hydrogel structure; NP incorporation enhanced hydrogel stability.
• In vitro release studies demonstrated pH-responsive drug release behavior.
• 5-FU/NP-loaded beads significantly reduced MCF-7 cancer cell viability, with minimal toxicity to normal MCF-10 cells.

Conclusions:

• The developed SAPVA hydrogel beads loaded with ANiCoFe NPs are pH-responsive and enable controlled 5-FU release.
• The ROS-generating capacity of the nanoparticles enhances the therapeutic potential of these hydrogel beads.
• This system shows promise for targeted cancer therapy applications.