Design and construction of polymerized-glucose coated Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles for delivery of aspirin

This study demonstrates a facile but effective method to construct glucose coated magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles for drug delivery through a glycothermal method (100-200°C). In this process, magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were firstly prepared via a glycothermal reaction of Fe (III) salts (e.g., FeCl₃.6H₂O) in ethylene glycol. Second, the polymerized glucose was used as a carbon layer to coat on the surface of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The polymerized glucose layer is biocompatible and can provide functional -OH groups for interaction with biomolecules that contain -COOH, -SH, and -NH₂ groups. The particle characteristics (morphology, size, surface property) were identified by various techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) spectrum. Finally, the polymerized-glucose coated magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites were used in drug delivery test at ambient conditions, and the loading or release performance of aspirin was assessed by using UV-vis spectroscopy. The influence of pH and ionic strength on the adsorption capacity has also been investigated. The findings in this study will be useful for engineering iron oxide nanoparticles for potential drug delivery applications.