Synthesis and characterization of γ-Fe2O3/polyaniline-curcumin composites

Superparamagnetic nanomaterials are showing great prospects in medical treatment with targeted medicine. A new conductive superparamagnetic nanocomposite, γ-Fe 2 O 3 /polyaniline-curcumin (γ-Fe 2 O 3 /PANI-curcumin), has been synthesized using the interaction between amino group in polyaniline and ketone group in curcumin. The γ-Fe 2 O 3 /PANI-curcumin composite has the superparamagnetism (30 emu·g -1 ) and electrochemical activity based on the results of magnetization curve and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) shows that the particle size of γ-Fe 2 O 3 /PANI-curcumin is about 50 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been used to characterize the γ-Fe 2 O 3 /PANI-curcumin composite and to confirm that curcumin is immobilized into γ-Fe 2 O 3 /PANI chains. The study provides an academic foundation for developing some new material for immobilizing drugs of anticancer.