Nano Express
Preparation of hollow magnetite microspheres and their applications as drugs carriers
1 School of Science and Technology, University of Turabo, Gurabo 00778, PR, USA
2 Department of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez 00681, PR, USA
3 Departamento de Física Aplicada C-XII, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco 28049, Madrid, Spain
4 Department of General Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez 00681, PR, USA
Nanoscale Research Letters 2012, 7:210 doi:10.1186/1556-276X-7-210
Published: 10 April 2012Abstract
Hollow magnetite microspheres have been synthesized by a simple process through a template-free hydrothermal approach. Hollow microspheres were surface modified by coating with a silica nanolayer. Pristine and modified hollow microparticles were characterized by field-emission electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy, and VSM magnetometry. The potential application of the modified hollow magnetite microspheres as a drug carrier was evaluated by using Rhodamine B and methotrexate as model drugs. The loading and release kinetics of both molecules showed a clear pH and temperature dependent profile.
Graphical abstract
Hollow magnetite microspheres have been synthesized. Load-release experiments with Rhodamine-B as a model drug and with Methotrexate (chemotherapy drug used in treating certain types of cancer) demonstrated the potential applications of these nanostructures in biomedical applications.
