Magnetic nanoparticles-loaded PLA/PEG microspheres as drug carriers

Surface-modified magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles with an average size of 22 nm were prepared. The nanoparticles had a saturation magnetization of 50.7 emu g(-1). Then magnetite and drug-loaded microspheres of poly (lactic acid)/poly (ethylene glycol) were prepared at various compositions. The microspheres were spherical in shape and had smooth surface. The diameter size of the microspheres ranged between about 0.2 and 4 m. Doxorubicin hydrochloride for cancer treatment was the drug that loaded into the microspheres. The prepared microspheres were characterized by FTIR, XRD, VSM, SEM and drug-release measurements. It was found that the drug cumulative release percentage was proportional to (time)(n) where 0.61<n<0.75 depending on PEG and Fe3O4 contents. The drug release was controlled through a combination of diffusion and PLA hydrolysis and obeyed a non-fickian mechanism. The drug release was facilitated by presence of poly (ethylene glycol) as PLA plasticizer and was higher under applied external magnetic field. The obtained magnetic microspheres could be used as drug carriers for targeted drug delivery purposes. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 1893-1898, 2015.