One-pot method for preparation of magnetic multi-core nanocarriers for drug deliveryDragar, Črt (Avtor) Potrč, Tanja (Avtor) Nemec, Sebastjan (Avtor) Roškar, Robert (Avtor) Pajk, Stane (Avtor) Kocbek, Petra (Avtor) Kralj, Slavko (Avtor) magnetic nanocrystalsmagnetic drug deliverynanocarriersmulti-core particlesmagnetic nanoparticlesdrug releaseThe development of various magnetically-responsive nanostructures is of great importance in biomedicine. The controlled assembly of many small superparamagnetic nanocrystals into large multi-core clusters is needed for effective magnetic drug delivery. Here, we present a novel one-pot method for the preparation of multi-core clusters for drug delivery (i.e., magnetic nanocarriers). The method is based on hot homogenization of a hydrophobic phase containing a nonpolar surfactant into an aqueous phase, using ultrasonication. The solvent-free hydrophobic phase that contained tetradecan-1-ol, γ-Fe$_2$O$_3$ nanocrystals, orlistat, and surfactant was dispersed into a warm aqueous surfactant solution, with the formation of small droplets. Then, a pre-cooled aqueous phase was added for rapid cooling and the formation of solid magnetic nanocarriers. Two different nonpolar surfactants, polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether (B4) and our own N$^1$,N$^1$-dimethyl-N$^2$-(tricosan-12-yl)ethane-1,2-diamine (SP11), were investigated for the preparation of MC-B4 and MC-SP11 magnetic nanocarriers, respectively. The nanocarriers formed were of spherical shape, with mean hydrodynamic sizes <160 nm, good colloidal stability, and high drug loading (7.65 wt.%). The MC-B4 nanocarriers showed prolonged drug release, while no drug release was seen for the MC-SP11 nanocarriers over the same time frame. Thus, the selection of a nonpolar surfactant for preparation of magnetic nanocarriers is crucial to enable drug release from nanocarrier.20192021-10-06 13:31:27Članek v reviji131929sl