Biocompatible and biodegradable polymer nanofibers displaying superparamagnetic properties

Chemphyschem. 2005 Aug 12;6(8):1461-5. doi: 10.1002/cphc.200500167.

Abstract

Superparamagnetic polymer nanofibers intended for drug delivery and therapy are considered here. Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles in the diameter range of 5-10 nm were synthesized in aqueous solution. Polymer nanofibers containing magnetite nanoparticles were prepared from commercially available poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate), PHEMA, and poly-L-lactide (PLLA) by the electrospinning technique. Nanofibers with diameters ranging from 50 to 300 nm were obtained. Nanofibers containing up to 35 wt % magnetite nanoparticles displayed superparamagnetism at room temperature. The blocking temperature was about 50 K for an applied field of 500 Oe, and the saturation magnetization was 3.5 emu g(-1) and 1.1 emu g(-1) for Fe3O4/PHEMA and Fe3O4/PLLA nanofibers, respectively, and depended on the amount of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the nanocomposites. To test such magnetic nano-objects for applications as drug carriers and drug-release systems we incorporated a fluorescent albumin with dog fluorescein isothiocyanate (ADFI).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Biocompatible Materials / metabolism
  • Ferrosoferric Oxide / chemistry*
  • Magnetics
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Organometallic Compounds / metabolism
  • Particle Size
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Polyesters / metabolism
  • Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate / chemistry*
  • Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate / metabolism
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Polyesters
  • Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate
  • poly(lactide)
  • Ferrosoferric Oxide