One-pot method for preparation of magnetic multi-core nanocarriers for drug delivery

Dragar, Črt (author), Potrč, Tanja (author), Nemec, Sebastjan (author), Roškar, Robert (author), Pajk, Stane (author), Kocbek, Petra (author), Kralj, Slavko (author)

The 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.

• Language: English
• Keywords: magnetic nanocrystals, magnetic drug delivery, nanocarriers, multi-core particles, magnetic nanoparticles, drug release
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2019
• Number of pages: 14 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 12, iss. 3, art. 540
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-131929
• UDC: 620.3
• ISSN on article: 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma12030540
• COBISS.SI-ID: 32095527
• Publication date in RUL: 06.10.2021

DRAGAR, Črt, POTRČ, Tanja, NEMEC, Sebastjan, ROŠKAR, Robert, PAJK, Stane, KOCBEK, Petra and KRALJ, Slavko, 2019, One-pot method for preparation of magnetic multi-core nanocarriers for drug delivery. Materials [online]. 2019. Vol. 12, no. 3,  540. [Accessed 11 April 2025]. DOI 10.3390/ma12030540. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=131929

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Materials
• Shortened title: Materials
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1996-1944
• COBISS.SI-ID: 33588485

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• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 12.02.2019