(701d) Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles for Triggered Drug Release from Alginate Hydrogels

While magnetic nanomaterials have already been used in clinics for contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [1], there has been no clinical approval for a drug delivery system containing such nanoparticles, yet. Magnetic nanoparticles currently investigated for their possible application in biomedicine are predominantly different crystalline polymorphs of iron oxides. For small enough crystal sizes, iron oxides exhibit the so-called â??superparamagneticâ? behavior, a feature combining high magnetization with very low coercive forces. Such superparamagnetic nanoparticles show great potential in therapeutic applications due to their ability to transform the energy of an alternating magnetic field to thermal energy in what is often called magnetic fluid hyperthermia [2]. These particles dissipate thermal energy by magnetic relaxation through the Brownian and Neel mechanisms. Therefore, aqueous suspensions at relatively higher nanoparticle concentrations (g/L), the so-called â??ferrofluidsâ?, also increase their temperature in the presence of an alternating magnetic field [3]. In this work, a composite multi-scale structure consisting of the biopolymer alginate, functional nanoparticles and a model drug is fabricated and analyzed. We examine the potential of flame-made SiO₂-coated Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles [4] as the stimuli-responsive material in the multi-scale composite structure. We perform detailed physicochemical and magnetic characterization on the hybrid alginate hydrogel beads and evaluate their potential in magnetic fluid hyperthermia and enhanced biomolecule release in the presence of an external AMF. The possibility to externally stimulate drug release will open up new possibilities in intelligent, on-demand drug administration [5].

References

[1] A. Singh, S. K. Sahoo, Drug Discov. Today, 19, 474-481 (2014).

[2] A. Jordan, R. Scholz, P. Wust, H. Fahling, R. Felix, J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 201, 413-419 (1999).

[3] G. A. Sotiriou, M. A. Visbal-Onufrak, A. Teleki, E. J. Juan, A. M. Hirt, S. E. Pratsinis, C. Rinaldi, Chem. Mater., 25, 4603-4612 (2013).

[4] A. Teleki, M. Suter, P. R. Kidambi, O. Ergeneman, F. Krumeich, B. J. Nelson, S. E. Pratsinis, Chem. Mater., 21, 2094-2100 (2009).

[5] A. Teleki, F. L. Haufe, A. M. Hirt, S. E. Pratsinis, G. A. Sotiriou, RSC Adv. 6, 21503-21510 (2016).