Hermally responsive lipid coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles for frequency triggered drug delivery

Abstract

Herein we report a fabrication method of core-shell type silica coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) with thermally responsive lipids for controlled and targeted drug delivery using Alternative Current (AC) magnetic field for potential applications in cancer therapy. Core-shell SPIONs, loaded with anticancer drug, Doxorubicin (DOX) were coated with lipids such as dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and cholesterol so as to cap the mesopores. The particle size of the bare and coated SPIONs was measured using the dynamic light scattering technique, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). The change in surface morphology of bare and coated SPIONs was evidenced from SEM. The in vitro drug loading and release studies were carried in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) under the AC magnetic field as well as under thermal incubation condition at 37°C. The concentration of DOX in solution was determined by measuring the absorbance at 484 nm by UV-Visible spectrophotometer. The preliminary results indicate that the drug release behaviour under the AC magnetic field is relatively controlled compared to that of normal thermal incubation condition at 37°C.