Nanocontainers based solely on magnetite NPs have been synthesized by indirect gelation of stable magnetite hydrosol at ambient temperature using the microemulsion-assisted sol-gel method. Containers synthesized have adjustable size and consist of ∼10 nm magnetite nanoparticles linked by Fe-O-Fe interparticle bonds. The material demonstrates high magnetization values up to 60 emu/g and low cytotoxicity against both HeLa and postnatal human fibroblast (up to 260 μg/mL). The systems developed are perspective as a drug depot, particularly for magnetically controlled thrombolysis.
Keywords: magnetite; microemulsion; tPA; targeted delivery; thrombolysis.