Preparation of hybrid nanocomposite particles for medical practices

Abstract This study addresses the preparation of hybrid nanoparticles comprised of magnetite (Fe3O4) cores and a surface functionalized with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH). The stabilized core nanoparticles were subsequently coated with a polymer matrix consisting of poly(L-co-D,L lactic acid-co-trimethylene carbonate) and poly(ethylene oxide) − poly(propylene oxide) − poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer. The novel core/shell hybrid nanoparticles combine the concepts of electromagnetic heating by the magnetite cores with the drug storage and release ability of the polymeric shell. These multifunctional hybrid nanoparticles are intended for hyperthermia clinical protocols in local drug delivery and medical practices in oncology. The essential physical features of these hybrid composite nanoparticles were assessed using an array of appropriate advanced characterization techniques. The equivalent average diameters of the composite nanoparticles were relatively uniform and their core/shell mass ratio was estimated through thermogravimetric analysis. The weakening of the intermolecular interactions with decreasing thickness of the coating led to a concomitant decrease in the melting temperature of the shell. The polydispersity index data from dynamic light scattering analysis enabled the conclusion that polymeric species contained in 10 mL of the polymeric matrix solution could effectively coat a maximum of core particles contained in 0.5 mL of ferrofluid.