In the past decade, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been among the most attractive nanomaterials
used in different fields, such as environmental and biomedical applications. The possibility of designing
nanoparticles with different functionalities allows for advancing the biomedical applications of these
materials. Additionally, the magnetic characteristics of the nanoparticles enable the use of magnetic fields
to drive the nanoparticles to the desired sites of delivery. In this context, the development of new MNPs in
new approaches for drug delivery systems (DDSs) for cancer treatment has increased. However, the synthesis
of nanoparticles with high colloidal stability triggered drug delivery, and good biocompatibility
remains a challenge. Herein, multi-core shell MNPs functionalized with Pluronic ® F-127 were prepared
and thoroughly characterized as drug carriers for doxorubicin delivery. The functionalized nanoparticles
have an average size of 17.71 ± 4.2 nm, high water colloidal stability, and superparamagnetic behavior. In
addition, the nanoparticles were able to load 936 μg of DOX per mg of functionalized nanomaterial. Drug
release studies at different pH values evidenced a pH-triggered DOX release effect. An increase of 62% in
cumulative drug release was observed at pH simulating tumor endosome/lysosome microenvironments
(pH 4.5) compared to physiological conditions (pH 7.4). In addition, an innovative dynamic drug delivery
study was performed as a function of pH. The results from this test confirmed the pH-induced doxorubicin
release capability of carbon multi-core shell MNPs. The validity of traditional kinetic models to fit
dynamic pH-dependent drug release was also studied for predictive purposes.
The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and
Technology (FCT, Portugal) and to the ERDF for financial
support by funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIBD/00690/2020) and
RTChip4Theranostics (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-029394). This
work is a result of these projects. This research was funded by
RTChip4Theranostics – Real time Liver-on-a-chip platform
with integrated micro(bio)sensors for preclinical validation of
graphene-based magnetic nanocarriers towards cancer theranostics,
with the reference NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-029394,
supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme
(NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership
Agreement, through the European Regional Development
Fund (ERDF); and CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) through ERDF
under the Program PT2020. Adriano S. Silva thanks his doctoral
Grant with reference SFRH/BD/151346/2021 financed by
the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT),
with funds from NORTE2020, under the MIT Portugal
Program.
