Applications of Thermoresponsive Magnetic Nanoparticles

Figure 1

Formulation of thermoresponsive MNP for drug delivery applications. (a) NIPAM monomers together with a cross-linker monomer were polymerized around clusters of γ-Fe₂O₃ MNPs to generate thermoresponsive MNPs. Dehydration of the particles below LCST under vacuum led to shrinking of the composite system. (b) Loading of a cancer chemotherapeutics, doxorubicin, in aqueous solution, is governed through hydrophobic interaction of drug molecules with the polymeric shell. (c) In vitro drug release could be achieved setting the temperature above LCST and accompanying phase change from coil to globule causes expulsion of drug molecules into the surrounding medium (reprinted with the permission of publisher, IOP Publishing Ltd., copyright 2009, from [55]).