Sorbents Based on Magnetite Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Magnetic nanoparticles based on magnetite Fe₃O₄ with surfaces modified with citrate ions (MNP) and silicon dioxide (Fe₃O₄–SiO₂ MNP) were obtained for sorption of drugs from aqueous media. The X-ray diffraction phase analysis and transmission electron spectroscopy methods were used to characterize the synthesized nanopowders. It is found that the maximum saturation magnetization reaches 92 A m²/kg for the MNP and 57 A m²/kg for the Fe₃O₄–SiO₂ MNP. The possibility of using synthesized nanocomposites for drug delivery in the treatment of oncological diseases has been studied. In this study, doxorubicin, fluorouracil, and cyclophosphamide were chosen as drugs. The experimental results have shown that only doxorubicin is adsorbed. The charges of active surface sites were determined. It has been established that the sorption processes occur by an electrostatic mechanism. The obtained sorption isotherms for both types of particles are described by the Langmuir equation. The maximum sorption capacity of doxorubicin for the MNP and the Fe₃O₄–SiO₂ MNP are 26 and 46 μmol/g, respectively. Modification of the surfaces of the synthesized nanoparticles with silicon dioxide increases the sorption efficiency. The obtained particles with modified surfaces are promising carriers that can be used in targeted drug delivery for cancer treatment.