Colloidal properties and in vitro evaluation of Hydroxy ethyl cellulose coated iron oxide particles for targeted drug delivery

In this study, superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles were prepared for the targeted drug delivery applications by controlling the colloidal properties with a cellulosic polymer that is Hydroxy ethyl cellulose (HEC). Fe₃O₄ particles were treated with HEC in a variable range of polymer concentration. Rheological, electrokinetic, magnetorheological and morphological properties of the dispersions were investigated to have stable and fully covered surfaces of Fe₃O₄ particles by coating with HEC and obtaining non-toxic biocompatible multifunctional magnetic particles. Fully coated HEC and iron-oxide particles were characterized thermally, magnetically and tested for toxicity in vitro. Then Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX), which is an anticancer drug widely used for cancer therapies, was loaded onto nanoparticles and their drug loading efficiency was determined. Finally, effects of DOX-loaded particles on the cancer cells were examined to report a nano drug system which can potentially open up new possibilities in the design of therapeutic agents. Results indicated that the synthesized nanoparticles in this study could be suitable to magnetically manipulated targeted delivery systems, imaging, magnetic hyperthermia treatments.