pH-responsive polymer in a core–shell magnetic structure as an efficient carrier for delivery of doxorubicin to tumor cells

ABSTRACT

A pH-responsive polymer derived from polyethyleneimine with zwitterionic function was used as a shell around super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), to introduce an efficient drug carrier for cancer drug delivery and imaging. Core–shell magnetic Fe₃O₄@FA-PEI-SUC (SUC: Succinate conjugated) nanoparticles were attained and characterized. Right chemical attachments, 61.34% modification of primary amino groups of poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) in PEI–SUC, spherical shape, core–shell structure, crystal structure of SPIONs, 18.23% polymer coating of NPs, 8% decrease in magnetization following polymer coating around SPIONs, doxorubicin loading efficiency 85.19%, two times more released amount in acidic pH, and proper toxicity results were obtained by different analysis methods.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Cancer drug delivery
• doxorubicin
• Fe₃O₄@FA-PEI-SUC
• pH-responsive polymer
• polyethyleneimine
• SPION
• succinic anhydride

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Professor Seyed Esmaeil Sadat Ebrahimi (TUMS, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry) for laboratory equipment and facilities.

Additional information

Funding

This work was accomplished as a part of Farzaaneh Zaaeri’s, PhD Thesis and supported by the Research Council of Tehran University of Medical Sciences under Grant No. 21657.