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The design and development of drug-delivery nanocarriers with high loading capacity, excellent biocompatibility, targeting ability and controllability have been the ultimate goal of the biomedical research community. In this work, we have reported the synthesis and characterization of novel and smart thermoresponsive polymer coated and Fe3O4 embedded hollow mesoporous silica (HmSiO2) based multifunctional superparamagnetic nanocarriers for the delivery of doxorubicin (Dox) for cancer treatment. P(NIPAM-MAm) coated and Fe3O4 nanoparticle (NP) embedded hollow mesoporous silica nanocomposite (HmSiO2-F-P(NIPAM-MAm)) was prepared by the in situ polymerization of NIPAM and MAm monomers on the surface of hollow mesoporous silica NPs (HmSiO2) in the presence of Fe3O4 NPs, oxidizer and crosslinker. TEM analysis showed nearly spherical morphology of HmSiO2-F-P(NIPAM-MAm) nanocarrier with a diameter in the range of 100–300 nm. The coating of P(NIPAM-MAm) layer and embedding of Fe3O4 NPs on the surface of the HmSiO2 NPs was revealed by HRTEM analysis. XRD and FTIR analysis also confirmed the presence of P(NIPAM-MAm) shells and Fe3O4 NPs on hollow mesoporous silica NPs. VSM analysis suggested the superparamagnetic nature of HmSiO2-F-P(NIPAM-MAm) nanocarrier. DSC analysis of HmSiO2-F-P(NIPAM-MAm) nanocarrier showed a phase transition at the temperature of ∼38 °C. The prepared HmSiO2-F-P(NIPAM-MAm) nanocarrier was investigated for its suitability for drug-delivery application using doxorubicin as the model drug by an in vitro method. The encapsulation efficiency and encapsulation capacity were found to be 95% and 6.8%, respectively. HmSiO2-F-P(NIPAM-MAm)-Dox has shown a pH and temperature-dependent Dox release profile. A relatively faster release of Dox from the nanocarrier was observed at temperature above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) than below the LCST. HmSiO2-F-P(NIPAM-MAm) nanocarrier was found to be biocompatible in nature. In vitro cytotoxicity studies against Hela cells suggested that the HmSiO2-F-P(NIPAM-MAm)-Dox nanocomposite nanocarrier has good anticancer activity. In vitro cellular uptake study of HmSiO2-F-P(NIPAM-MAm)-Dox nanocomposite nanocarrier demonstrated its good internalisation ability into Hela cells. Thus, the prepared nanocomposites show potential as nanocarrier for targeted and controlled drug delivery for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biopolymer coated magnetic nanoparticles are becoming extremely popular in the fields of biomedical research because of their enormous applications potentials. In this work, first, CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles (CF NPs) of two distinct sizes have been prepared following co-precipitation method by varying the synthesis parameters and characterized. XRD, SAED and IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transformed) assisted HRTEM analyses confirmed the successful formation of monodispersed spinel cubic CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles. Particles size of CF NPs was found to increase with increase in the amount of reducing agent. Synthesized CF NPs was coated with an egg albumen matrix by a facile and environmental friendly method to form biocompatible CoFe 2 O 4 @Albumen nanocomposite nanoparticle (CF@Alb NP). Prepared CoFe 2 O 4 and CoFe 2 O 4 @Albumen nanoparticles were examined for its structure, morphology, thermal stability and magnetic nature employing powder XRD, HRTEM, TGA, FTIR and VSM techniques. Low as well as high magnification TEM analyses have shown coating of amorphous albumen on crystalline CF NPs. It was observed that CF@Alb NP is composed of many smaller CF NPs engulfed in the albumen matrix forming a nano-aggregate of size ∼80–130 nm. IFFT analysis of HRTEM micrograph showed presence of crystalline CF NPs in amorphous albumen matrix. Further, TGA and FTIR results also suggested the successful coating of albumen on CF NPs. CF@Alb NP has shown a very good Dox loading ability with loading efficiency of ∼93%. A promising pH dependent Dox release behavior was observed. Dox release kinetics has also been studied using different mathematical models. Biocompatibility of the CF@Alb NP has been tested against the human monocytic cell line THP-1. This novel CF@Alb NP could have a great potential in biomedical applications, particularly in hyperthermia and targeted drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uses of biopolymers for the development of nanocarriers are receiving significant attention due to its biocompatible and biodegradable nature. Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a well known medicinal plant and it is reported that the polysaccharides and limonoids present in the neem extract prevent the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. In this work, we have synthesized neem gum (NG) coated Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs) based novel nanobiocomposite (Fe 3 O 4 @NG NBC) by simple sonochemical method and characterized it for structural, microstructural and magnetic properties. The morphology, structure, and magnetic properties of the prepared Fe 3 O 4 NPs and Fe 3 O 4 @NG nanobiocomposite were investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis. XRD pattern, TEM micrograph and FTIR spectra confirmed the successful coating of neem gum on Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. IR spectra of Fe 3 O 4 @NG nanobiocomposite revealed the presence of specific bands corresponding to both neem gum and Fe 3 O 4 NPs, which confirmed the formation of Fe 3 O 4 @NG NBC. The obtained size of Fe 3 O 4 @NG nanobiocomposite particles was ∼50–400 nm. VSM analysis confirmed the superparamagnetic nature of both Fe 3 O 4 NPs and Fe 3 O 4 @NG nanobiocomposite. Fe 3 O 4 @NG nanobiocomposite was loaded with anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox) and its release behaviour was studied at pH 7.4 and 5. Faster release of Dox was observed in acidic environment. In vitro cytotoxicity of the prepared Fe 3 O 4 @NG NBC against human monocytic cell line THP‐1 was also studied by MTT assay. This novel Fe 3 O 4 @NG nanobiocomposite with low toxicity, biodegradability, water dispersability, excellent drug loading ability and good magnetic controllability could offer potential applications in biomedical field including targeted drug delivery for cancer diagnosis and treatment in near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]